vaneramos | The Friday Five

1. Is the name you have now the same name that's on your birth certificate? If not, what's changed?

My first and middle names are William Van. I went by Bill until I was 31. I always liked Van better. When I came out I essentially lost all my social connections so I decided if I wanted to use my middle name, that would be a good time to start. So I did. Even my parents use Van most of the time. I still occasionally see people who knew me before and call me Bill. It is so rare that I find it disconcerting.

2. If you could change your name (first, middle and/or last), what would it be?

I wouldn't mind if my parents had given me the full Silvanus, but they gave me the short form. I have grown to like my surname, Waffle, despite it's silliness. I have considered choosing a pen name which can be taken seriously.

3. Why were you named what you were? (Is there a story behind it? Who specifically was responsible for naming you?)

Apparently my father said, "He looks like a William Van." I had one great-grandfather on each side named William. My father's father was named Silvanus, and went by Van all his life. I was fond of him, which is part of the reason I like the name.

Silvanus was a Roman deity of forests and fields, similar to the Greek God Pan. This suits me fine.

4. Are there any names you really hate or love? What are they and why?

Something strange: my parents' names are Don and Donna. My sister-in-law is Dawn. This used to be very confusing.

I seem to have some strange karmic connection to the name Dan. Out of nine men I have seriously dated since I came out of the closet, three were named Daniel, including the one who is now my oldest gay friend, the one I dated the longest (his name was Dan Vanderburg), and the one I am seeing now. Danny's partner's name is Bill and Bill's boyfriend is also Daniel. One of my other boyfriends was named Don.

More often than not when I am introduced to people for the first time, they mistake my name for Dan.

5. Is the analysis of your name at kabalarians.com / triggur.org / astroexpert accurate? How or how isn't it?

The name of William gives you a very individual, reserved, serious nature. You stick stubbornly to your ideas or decisions, in spite of any appeals or advice; you are not willing to accept a compromise. You prefer to be alone with your own thoughts, rather than in the company of others. This name restricts spontaneity in association and the fluency of your verbal expression. When you are required to express yourself in personal matters requiring finesse and diplomacy, you feel awkward and embarrassed. Although you realize perfectly well what is expected of you, you are unable to find the right words, and hence you end up saying something inappropriate in a candid way. You can express your deeper thoughts and feelings best through writing. Your friendships and personal associations are rather restricted, being limited to those of a similar nature who can understand and accept your rather straightforward yet reserved manner. You are steadfast and loyal, and do not allow gossip or anything belittling to be said against those whom you accept in friendship. You find satisfaction in being outdoors or in getting out into nature, or in dealing with the products of the earth. There is originality and depth of thought contained in this name, particularly along practical and mathematical lines.

Stunningly, eerily accurate. The analysis of Van doesn't fit me at all.