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.