opinios

First Initial People

I was reading one of my favourite web design blogs, by a fellow named D. Keith Robinson, and I got to thinking how sometimes what it takes to really make it in this world has a lot to do with your name and how people relate to it. How it flows off the tongue, the imagery it evokes, the resonance it strikes with people.

The importance of one's name is all around us. Take Australian Idol as an example - surely the reason that Ngaiire ("nigh-ree") didn't poll enough votes is because her name was too damn hard for people to type into their phones when sending their votes through (the girl rocked the house and had an incredible voice!) Of course that was the reason, because we all know Australians aren't racist and it had nothing to do with the fact that she was black, now did it? (Note: can someone tell me why Angie, who had an even more awesome voice also got voted off then??)

Oops, there I go getting all political again. Back to my main point which is far from political, and that is that your name can make or break you.

Which is why I am contemplating doing what many famous people have done and going by my second name. Not dropping the first name entirely; just keeping the first initial. It is quite a phenomenon. You know, like:

• J. Edgar Hoover
• F. Scott Fitzgerald

You get the picture. A friend of mine has taken this approach. Although she doesn't personally remember the details of how it happened, her parents were happy to fill her in later in life - apparently Belinda, at the age of about 3, decided to throw a tantrum and refuse to respond to Belinda. Yes, on that day she announced to the world that she would from then on be known only by her middle name: Kate. She now signs forms as "B. Kate", and Kate has been Kate ever since. And she is doing really well in her career, so there must be a correlation.

The only problem is: my middle name is John.

Not that John is a bad name. My favourite uncle is a John. I love lots of Johns. John Coltrane, Johnny Cash, John Wayne. I will admit that the first CD I ever bought was a John Farnham album. Hell, I even liked Johnny Young when I was a kid. And I sure as hell hope John Kerry wins the election (but not John Howard!)

Unfortunately John just doesn't evoke the same mystery as M. Night Shyamalan for example, even when I stick an 'M' in front.

I guess it's back to good old Matthew.

Never mind. Perhaps you, dear reader, could help me compile a list of famous "First Initial People". Just because I haven't seen it done before.

I've started us off with a whole stack of (mostly) authors (with a little help from Google), but who else can you come up with? Or, if you are an FIP yourself then feel free to tell us how or why you chose to adopt your middle name!

The opinios list of well-known "First Initial People"

• A. Lou Vickery
• A. Whitney Brown
• C. Stacey Woods
• D. Keith Robinson
• F. Scott Fitzgerald
• H. Jackson Brown, Jr
• J. Danforth Quayle
• J. Donald Walters
• J. Edgar Hoover
• J. Paul Getty
• M. Scott Peck
• M. Night Shyamalan
• R. Emmett Tyell
• W. Clement Stone
• W. Somerset Maugham