I grew up with the last name Guberman.
It's sort of pronounced like Goober-min.
I've heard my fair share of bizarre last names, and it's always reassuring to know that I am not alone in my odd name struggles.
1) Spelling It
Whenever I go to an appointment and have to check in, or whenever I'm picking something up from various offices, I have to give my last name. Of course, saying "Guberman" is never enough for them. They have no clue what I just said when I do that. I always have to say, "Guberman... G-U-B..." I've seen countless spellings of my last name before: Huberman, Gooberman, Gubberman, Gutterman, etc.
2) Easy Target
Some last names are just easy targets for jokes. Whether it's in the classroom, in the office, or even around friends, funky last names are always turned into the most stupid jokes. As a Guberman, when the Spongebob Squarepants Movie came out during my childhood, it didn't take long for the nickname, "Goofy Goober" to stick.
3) Autocorrect
Some weird last names are at least real words. Some people have normal last names that phones and technology recognize. Others? Nope. Apparently Guberman doesn't exist, and I really meant to say that my name is "Jen Giveback." What?
4) Urban Dictionary
This is always a fun test. This doesn't apply to every bizarre last name, but some of them have rather unfortunately Urban Dictionary definitions. The one for Guberman happens to literally say, "Easy name to make fun of," and then proceeds to list nickname options (please refer to number 2 above).
5) Sounding It Out
This is the reverse struggle of having to spell it, and sometimes this is even more difficult, especially when you have someone who gets it stuck in their head that your name is pronounced in a way that it is definitely not. Luckily, this doesn't happen to me too often, but once in a great while I'll hear someone read it as "Guh-ber-man."
6) Standardized Tests
This is you, still bubbling your name.
This is for my long-named friends out there. Oh, the good ole' days of having to bubble your full name on a scantron sheet. You're still bubbling while all of the John Smith's of the world are already on question 3. Some tests only had spaces for 7 characters for first and for last names, and that's when I became "Jennife Guberma."
7) Meeting Others
If there's someone out there with your rare and odd last name, for some reason everyone thinks you're related. Though I've actually never met a non-relative with the last name Guberman.
8) Friends Who Still Don't Know
LOL SO LITERALLY ANYWHERE?
Sometimes you meet people and learn their name, but their name sounded so different and unusual that you weren't sure you understood it right and you never really take the time to make sure you were correct in understanding, so you just avoid ever using their last name on anything. If you and I were friends and my last name confused you, you better hope you don't mention me to someone and have them ask, "Which Jen?"
9) When Someone Finally Gets It Right
Yay! That moment when you say your last name when picking something up from an office and they get it to you before you even start to spell it, or when someone spells it right on an envelope. The best is when you're in a class for the first time and the teacher calls role-- you expect him or her to get it wrong, and you half prepare yourself to correct them, but it's pronounced correctly! "Jennifer Guberman?" "Actually it's G-- oh... Here!"
If you have a strange last name, know that you are not alone. The struggle is real, but honestly, having a memorable last name can be a lot of fun!
