The effects of growing up with an extremely common name
I experience the opposite. I have the Irish name &#x27;Cathal&#x27; which isn&#x27;t very well known outside of Ireland. I&#x27;ve spent the past year in the US and every time I&#x27;m introducing myself to someone I hesitate and mentally prepare for the &#x27;wait what?&#x27; after I tell them my name.<p>It&#x27;s common here for restaurants and cafes to ask for your name when ordering, and often I&#x27;ll make up a more common name for myself to avoid the hassle spelling out and explaining &#x27;Cathal&#x27; to the cashier.<p>Having a unique name does however create an interesting talking point when talking to a new person, and it seamlessly opens up a discussion about my background and origins after introducing myself.