this is a personal post, pure and simple. i won’t dwell on this too long, but …
i’ve chosen a new name for my evolving identity, for the person i’ve become. i’ve used “adam annabel” for some time to address both the male and female sides of my being. but it has always felt somewhat unnatural, because those are two names, defining two parts of my identity as if they were separate.
but, obviously, the girl and boy within me are one, united. and they deserve a common name.
i’ve decided on a bit of a compromise. i’ve chosen the name “adelie,” and “addie” for short. it’s a name that, to me, represents both of those sides. it unifies me. and at the same time, the nickname “addie” honors those distinct parts of me. my given name is adam, and addie can be a diminutive version of that. similarly, addie can be short for a traditionally feminine name (such as adelaide). i will always be adam to some degree; it is my history, my origin. but to be “adam” while identifying as female doesn’t feel right, and here i can go by adelie. and addie works for both.
i knew i wasn’t going to feel right until i settled on a single name that i felt comfortable using no matter how i presented, gender-wise.
this isn’t my most eloquent post. but i hope you understand.
so, hi. i’m addie. pleasure to meet you. xo <3