Posts by czeslaw

czeslaw

23 Jun 2009

Genealogy / Changing my name to a Polish one [35]

As for this new name sounding cool, Czeslaw doesnt even sound cool in poland let alone elsewhere in the world. Have you ever even stepped foot on Polish soil? In fact, you will sound liek such a t**** when you have to tell people ur name and ur not even Polish.GROW UP

Well, thanks, welshguy! Nice to meet you too. Tell me, please, is there a website where I could learn about courtesy and proper manners in Wales? I'm curious how parents there transmit these concepts to their children.

Diolch yn fawr iawn,

czesław

czeslaw

22 Jun 2009

Genealogy / Changing my name to a Polish one [35]

Mieczysław Mieczowski would sound even more swordlike. Or maybe some old warrior name like Gniewomir (from gniew - anger), Gromosław (from grom - thunder) or even Mściwój (the avenger of warriors or warrior-avenger).

Cool names, Torq; thanks for those! "Gromosław, Władcy Losu!"

Although Mściwój would sound very old-fashioned. I have only know one personin my life with that name.

I think inflicting Czesław on everyone I know is bad enough. I can just imagine how well Mściwój would go over. (By the way, it sounds a bit like the English word 'mischievous,' which is rather cool in itself.)

czeslaw

22 Jun 2009

Genealogy / Changing my name to a Polish one [35]

time means, I said I'm changing my name, not yours. :-) Thanks for your concern, but I'm perfectly comfortable doing this. And also proud to be as red-blooded an American as any other.

I'm sure your psychiatrists secretary cannot wait as well.

I'll let you know what she says. :-)

Good Luck with the name change. I can really understand why you wish to have a Polish name. Sense of belonging is very strong and at the end of the day, its your choice entirely.

Thanks, Lir, much appreciated.

czeslaw

21 Jun 2009

Genealogy / Changing my name to a Polish one [35]

Czesław Mieczkowski sounds good. It's very Polish indeed and only Poles (native speakers) are able to pronounce it properly. ;)

Oh, good!

Czesław is very old fashion thou. What about Tadeusz? I like when first name and last name have the same number of syllables (3+3)

I think the fact that it sounds old-fashioned makes me like it even more. For Americans -- and I am certainly in the minority regarding this -- I greatly prefer "old-fashioned" names to the things parents are calling their kids these days. Give me an Agnes or an Edith anyday over Mikayla, McKenzie, Brittany, Morgan, Ashley... no offense to people who have those names, of course! :-) Tadeusz is a nice name, but I think it's just not for me. And I rather like the asymmetry of the rhythm of Czesław Mieczkowski (2 + 3 syllables).

An excellent, very Polish and noble-sounding name. There were four lines of nobles amongst the Mieczkowskis ...

Thank you, Polonius. That's very interesting! I knew a little about the Polish nobility and heraldry, but I certainly didn't know that Mieczkowski was one of the noble names.

The reason you decided to change your name is rather unusual. I know Polish people born in the UK and who have English names. I don't think that's good, it is losing the national identity.

I think it's a little sad that names get mutilated to "fit in" with other cultures. I think Polish names are especially susceptible, since their orthography causes them to be so badly butchered, especially by English speakers. Conversely, I'm really glad to be bringing such a Polish name to California. I can't wait for the first time I have to spell it to someone over the phone.

czeslaw

20 Jun 2009

Genealogy / Changing my name to a Polish one [35]

This is an unusual topic/question. To make a long story short, I plan on changing my name after my father passes away to a Polish one. The reason is because I was adopted, and learned of my Polish heritage (and Finnish, Croatian, Slovenian and Roma ["Gypsy"]) over the past few years (and confirmed through DNA testing). I am an American male, born and raised in the US, with a very Anglo-Saxon sounding name, and so changing my name, especially to an "English-unfriendly" Polish one, is admittedly a rather drastic step, but nonetheless it is what I want to do. I have felt a connection to the Slavic lands and culture my whole life long, and was never at home with my given name. I know that may sound strange to some, sort of like people who were born one sex but feel that they should be the other, yet that is the way I feel about my name.

The name I wish to use is Czesław Mieczkowski.

So what I wish to ask is, how does that sound to a native Polish speaker? I chose the imię because it is clearly Slavic, not Latinate. The nazwisko I chose because my biological father's last name was Hildebrand, which translates from German as "battle sword." I don't believe there's a Polish equivalent, but I know that 'miecz' is sword.

I would be very grateful to hear what native Polish speakers think about all this nonsense. :-) Also, if someone can suggest a variation of Czesław that is easier for English speakers to pronounce , I would appreciate that too. (I came up with 'Czeko,' but I don't know how that sounds to a native speaker.)

Czesław