Jane Ridley reflects on her lifelong dissatisfaction with her name, feeling it was plain and old-fashioned. Growing up in the UK during the 1970s, she longed for a more exciting and unique name like her peers, envying names such as Cressida and Hermione. Despite her dislike for the name, she discovered that it held sentimental value for her mother, being her godmother’s favorite. Although she contemplated legally changing her name to something more extravagant like “Ophelia,” she ultimately decided against it out of respect for her parents’ choice. Over time, she found pride in her name, especially as she embarked on a successful career in journalism.
