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HelpNon-pretentious sounding versions of the name "Cesario"
So, I'm trans and looking at changing my name (not legally, just among friends + at school), and I've been looking at the name Cesario, inspired by the female character in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night who dresses as a man.
The issue is, I feel like it may come across as too pretentious, and if I ever have the opportunity to fully transition, it may be too obviously a "trans" name. Especially if people know the play.
So basically, I'm asking if anyone has any ideas of different nicknames or name variations I could use that still kind of "relate" to the name Cesario. Preferably a nickname but any suggestions are welcome.
The issue is, I feel like it may come across as too pretentious, and if I ever have the opportunity to fully transition, it may be too obviously a "trans" name. Especially if people know the play.
So basically, I'm asking if anyone has any ideas of different nicknames or name variations I could use that still kind of "relate" to the name Cesario. Preferably a nickname but any suggestions are welcome.
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I would go with something that brings me joy (and so seems like "mine" in that way). If that was Cesario, then I wouldn't care too much if it seemed foreign/pretentious/grand/formal to other people. If you're primarily picking a name to blend in, then I guess it'd matter but also like, what is the point if it doesn't feel right?
I like saying Cesario. Cesa ("Cheh-za"), Cesar, Ari, Rio could be potential NNs. Also, I did a poll last year about Cesare (CHEH-za-reh) vs César (SEH-ZAR), and 78% preferred César. I'd guess a lot of English speakers might intuitively pronounce Cesario with an S sound (like Caesar in English and Cesar in Spanish/French), but they might think CH if they're familiar with an Italian form - the pronunciation is ambiguous, but that only matters if people you don't know are reading it, and I like Cesario either way. If you were going to use Caesar / Kaiser, you could go with Kai as a NN (Kaiser "Kai" is simplest in English, but I feel like it's the least namey apart from Kai - I'd rather see Kaius / Caius).
I like saying Cesario. Cesa ("Cheh-za"), Cesar, Ari, Rio could be potential NNs. Also, I did a poll last year about Cesare (CHEH-za-reh) vs César (SEH-ZAR), and 78% preferred César. I'd guess a lot of English speakers might intuitively pronounce Cesario with an S sound (like Caesar in English and Cesar in Spanish/French), but they might think CH if they're familiar with an Italian form - the pronunciation is ambiguous, but that only matters if people you don't know are reading it, and I like Cesario either way. If you were going to use Caesar / Kaiser, you could go with Kai as a NN (Kaiser "Kai" is simplest in English, but I feel like it's the least namey apart from Kai - I'd rather see Kaius / Caius).
This message was edited 3/27/2024, 9:08 AM
I would find Cesario surprising on someone who wasn't Italian, Spanish, Latin American, etc. If this is a concern for you, you could always go by Sebastian - not only is it the name of Viola/Cesario's twin, it's also the name Julia assumes when she disguises herself as a man in Two Gentlemen of Verona.
This message was edited 3/27/2024, 2:15 AM
Sometimes I think ruminating over a name's potential interpretations makes one over cautious. I know plenty of people who have names that could be considered pretentious, but after a while it just becomes a name like any other.
And if you're considering using a name inspired by a character, it's probably not that bad if people put 2 and 2 together, right? I mean, you like the character, so isn't it ok if someone recognizes it?
Cesar is a really common name around the world, that's an easy nickname to use. Sario or Rio are great ideas too!
And if you're considering using a name inspired by a character, it's probably not that bad if people put 2 and 2 together, right? I mean, you like the character, so isn't it ok if someone recognizes it?
Cesar is a really common name around the world, that's an easy nickname to use. Sario or Rio are great ideas too!
Caesar is the first one that comes to mind but you could probably argue that it's quite pretentious as well. You could also possibly go by Rio as a nickname