Anderley Penwell.

What does it mean? Where did you get it? Where is it from? How do you spell it? How do you pronounce it? So unique!

Here are truths that people with unique or odd names all know to be true when Captain Obvious points out that you have a unique name.

1. You’ve accepted that you will never find a souvenir with your name.

Sorry. Unless your name is Angela, Brian, Emily, Frank, Nick or Sue, it’s just not ever going to happen.

2. Spelling is always a problem.

Don’t even try at Starbucks. It’s a nightmare.

3. Roll call in school was always interesting.

“Here! But I go by (blank.)”

or,

When teachers would say, “I’m so sorry, I’m not even going to try this,” and you knew it was you.

4. You always get asked what it means and people are astounded by your explanation.

“It’s my great-grandma’s maiden name.”

“Oh my god, so cool!”

5. “Where did you get it?” is always an odd question.

From my parents? They liked it?

6. People automatically assume your name is “foreign.”

Czech-Bohemian with Germanic roots. OK, in my case, I guess I’m “foreign.”

7. Getting phonetic is the easiest way to explain pronunciation.

And-dur-lee

8. Sometimes, you just give up and lie about your name when you order because you don’t want it messed up.

“Hi, can I get one large, cheese pizza for, uh, Amber?”

9. But you totally can pretend that it’s not you when someone mispronounces your name when you’re on the phone.

“Hi, is, uh, Audralee there?”

“Um, I’m sorry. No one here has that name.”

10. Your reaction when someone pronounces it right on their first try

But, at the end of the day, your name is badass and totally you.