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[Opinions] Sandra or Cassandra?
Since I was about 10 years old (19 yrs now) I wanted to change my name because I felt that my name, Sandra, is boring.. My parents actually chose Bianca as my name the first day, and changed it to Sandra the day after, and I can admit that I like Sandra better than Bianca. But it still feels a little empty to me.. I have a firstname, a middle-surname (my mothers surname) and a surname (my fathers), and I actually feel like taking away my mothers surname and change my name into Cassandra instead of Sandra. That way, it wouldn't be weird if I have some friends that still would call me Sandra; it could work as a nickname. What do you think? What would you do in my situation? And what thoughts do you have about each name, Cassandra and Sandra?
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Sandra is nice but dated where I live. It also seems incomplete to me because I'm not a fan of nns on the bc. They're limiting to my way of thinking. Cassandra is lovely and I think using Cassandra would give you the best of both worlds, however, speaking as one who did change her name legally, make absolutely sure it's what you want. In my experience, you've got to love it and you've got to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that it's what you want.Best wishes!
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I prefer Cassandra, that's for sure. Sandra is so pedestrian in comparison. Go for it.
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I actually think Bianca is way nicer than Sandra. If your serious about changing your name than I think Cassandra is a fantastic alternative.
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I have this problem as my name or Cassie ( my mums name is Sandra)... It's just Cassie. Not short for anything. I used to really want my name to be Cassandra as the Sandra part would honour my late mother... Now I don't mind. I mostly go by Cass anyway and Cassandra is too long.
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I love Cassandra and it's close enough to Sandra so I don't see it as a big deal and, if you choose it, it definitely makes sense. And you're right, it works perfectly fine as a nickname. Just a side tidbit - I know a woman named Sandra whose granddaughter was named Cassandra, after her. It made me wonder if Sandra's real name was actually Cassandra (it's not). Just goes to show how closely linked the names are. Sandra's perfectly fine just a bit dated in my country. I love the spelling Sondra.
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I really like both names.I approve of changing it to Cassandra. I think it's cool that you can make your name feel more complete and still keep the name your parents gave you. The only issue is, and it's just barely an issue - I pronounce Cassandra ka-SAWN-dra, and Sandra SAN-dra. I guess if you pronounce the middle A the same in both, it's not an issue at all.If you're wanting to get rid of your mother's surname for some reason, it sure is a convenient thing, to expand your first name at the same time. I actually think you'd need a better reason to drop your mother's surname (whatever your reason is), than you do to change Sandra to Cassandra.
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We do pronounce it the same in my country, so that is not a problem here. I really do want to changed it, and stop using my middlename, because my fathers surname is a long name.. And it is unpractical when I sign things because it can be hard to get enough space for my full name.. it is really annoying! I want Cassandra and just my fathers surname because I feel that they are strong names at their own, I don't feel that I would need a middlename. But you are right that I probably need a good reason to take away my mothers surname.. But it is a very boring surname, I swear that you can find thousands of people with that surname here in Norway. I guess I need to check some rules about it. Thank you for your opinion!
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You live in a different country, but here in the US, on forms that ask for my "full name", the middle name is usually optional. I rarely bother to include it, unless the form *specifically* asks for my full middle name. So my point is, you may have to write it all out less than you think. :)
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Yes it is kind of like that here too, but that is also a reason I don't like to have it there.. I don't even like it, think it is annoying and it is really no point to have that specific surname as a middlesurname. Although it is my mothers name, it doesn't really feel like me, because thousands of others have the same surname. I don't feel that it connect me to my mother as it should.. If I had a shorter second name as a middlename, that could be from my mothers firstname, it would feel much more personal, and maybe it wouldn't feel that annoying anymore.
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If you don't think it'd mean anything to your mother then I guess it might be trivial. I was thinking that the name might represent a connection to your mother and those on her side, that you'd want to consider. But, having an extremely long double surname that you have to sign (rather than just a middle name that you never have to really deal with) is a real practical consideration that might just trump any of that. I think I might try to make the mother's surname into a second first name that could be omitted, if possible, rather than deleting it, but I'm not sure if these things would mean the same to you.

This message was edited 4/24/2016, 2:43 PM

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I don't think so actually.. I think both of my parents will understand how I think, or they will respect my opinions of my own name. They have always been very supportive. I think that my mothers surname doesn't actually represents any connection to her when so many others have that name too.. But her firstname is Marianne, so I could use Mari or Anne or Maria as a middlename I guess. But it doesn't actually sound any good with Cassandra in Norwegian.. But maybe it would be a good thing to do for my mother. My mothers surname, Hansen, do not work as a second first name, because everyone knows it is a surname. I think it is the most common surname in Norway or so. I think people would think it was weird. But, as mentioned, I could have used Mari or something, just to have a piece of my mother in my name. It may work if it is Marí and not just Mari.
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Hi !!!Sandra is super boring for me I agree with you.At the opposite Cassandra is one of my favourite names.
I love its sound I love its myth and all the mystery about it. I read some tragedies with Cassandra as a protagonist and I adore this character.Also Cassandra is quite classic and formal for its origin but also unique and youthful because a Cassandra can't be a ordinary person!!!It is a great choise because in it there is also your name Sandra.I disagree the name-change -Can I use these words?- but for all reasons that I explained I rank Cassandra 10!!Byeeeeeeeeee
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I've sort of wanted to change my name for years, but I never have because it would upset my mother, plus it seems like a lot of paperwork, and I'm lazy when it comes to paperwork.If those things don't bother you, then go for it.
I think Cassandra nn Sandra is more 3D than just Sandra.
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The paperwork is no problem for me. But my bestfriend kind of want me to keep my name.. But that is also why I think about a name that is so near to my "real" name, so my closest people can keep calling me Sandra if they want to, without making it weird.
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My thoughts...Lengthen it to Cassandra. Having a formal form of a name for documents has benefits, and you're right, you can still go by Sandra. Another name you can consider lengthening to is Alexandra. Not sure about removing your mother's surname if it's your middle name. Middle names can be very useful. If anything I'd say you should consider looking for another name to make your middle name.
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