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WHAT'S IN A NAME?

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty

"Thou art thyself, though not a Montague". 

I could, of course, say "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."  But that would be cliché...

However, the cool girls group, "My name is Cheryl" have graciously extended an invitation to join them.  Think about the Cheryls you knew in high school.  These were popular girls.  You always had at least two cheer leaders on the squad named Cheryl.  A lot of actresses and models named Cheryl.  Then I come to Active Rain and discover they are still popular, clever and cool!

Now think about the Margarets you knew.  Um, right.  No supermodels in that group.  The only television Margaret I can remember is on Dennis the Menace.  She was a goody two shoes.  How about famous Margarets?  You have Margaret Thatcher, the politician, Margaret Mead, the anthropologist, Margaret Mitchell, the author. These are competent, fierce, driven women.

New agents have to make an immediate name decision: What name will they use on their business cards?  You may have been Patty or Bill for 20 years - Are you now Patricia or William?

Names are like the clothes we wear.  People form impressions based on appearance, including our names.  Next we have to name a website, then a blog.

Here's a little secret:  My family calls me Peggy, an Irish nickname for Margaret.  My poker buddies call me Ginger, for my reddish hair.  My Vegas name...  Oh wait, that's another blog.

Yet I chose the more formal Margaret.  Why?  First, there is the legal formality.  I have to sign all documents that way.  Second, I know from working in the corporate world that not everyone immediately recognizes the name as the same as an author BUT it seems vaguely familiar and perhaps important, and my calls get returned quicker.

And at the end of the day, I want to have the qualities that this name evokes: competent, fierce and on a real estate mission!

What decision did you make on your real estate name and why?

No Longer Active in Staging. No Longer Staging
Hickory, NC

Hey Margaret - Welcome - so happy to have you with the Cheryls or honorary Cheryls.. It appears that you are quite a good writer - maybe I can learn something ;-) I really can't remember - I was only a JV cheerleader... Hey how about Ann Margaret, oh that's her last name <grin>  Your photo reminds me of an actress but I can't remember her name..

God bless - great to have you aboard !

Aug 08, 2008 01:37 PM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Hi Margaret, I'm a Cheryl, and I "hear ya!".  I was born in the South, and thank my lucky stars my parents didn't saddle me with some of the family names.  Ludie, Myrtle, Henrietta, Mildred.  Lovely ladies all, but thank you, thank you, thank you Mom and Dad!  Though I never wanted to be a Cheryl, (Nancy was my pick as a little girl!), I never took a nickname, other than my mom calling me "Sookie Jane"....?   =op

Aug 08, 2008 09:41 PM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Hello Cheryl, Cheryl and Cheryl!!!!  Or since I'm an honorary Cheryl, should I say; me, myself and I!!   Lol.

Cheryl W.  Oh yes, I would have INSISTED on being called Cher.  Cheryl G. - I am actually Margaret Ann AND Cheryl M - you reminded me to be grateful.  My parents had a huge argument over my name.  My father wanted to name me Edna after his mother.  I am grateful that my mother won the argument.

Aug 08, 2008 10:08 PM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Tony & Darcy - I totally had forgotten about Margaret Houlihan!!

Li -thank you for stopping by.  And I have to ask:  is Li short for anything? 

And Mike, either one works esp with that MM alliteration!

Aug 08, 2008 10:21 PM
Brenda Tressler
Crye-Leike Realtors - Clarksville, TN

turtleHello! I just wanted to visit you becouse you took the time to leave me a comment and then I found this great post! Cute and food for thought... Have a great day! Brenda :)

Aug 12, 2008 11:55 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

In Ohio after 9-11-2001 I think our state licensing has taken the approach if you are Margaret on your birth certificate you are Margaret on your real estate license and you will practice real estate as Margaret.  Or maybe I am remembering it wrong, maybe it is on the board level, even more local. Not that it was retroactive... the Margarets who were going by Peggy, Meg, Maggie or Hot Lips can remain Peggy, Meg, Maggie or "Hot Lips" if they want to...but the newly licensed agents had to use their formal names.

Or maybe it swung back shortly after... trying to remember my buddy Betsy, if her listings were under Elizabeth.

I always envied the Margarets for their options, Meg, Maggie, Peggy, Margie, etc,

Aug 14, 2008 02:20 AM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Hi Maureen - Thanks for stopping by.  I think that is sensible by the Ohio RE board.  I never thought about it - but there are a lot of nicknames for Margaret.  A plus I never noticed.  Not too many nicknames for Maureen but you got that alliteration (MM) thing working for ya!

Aug 14, 2008 02:38 AM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Hey, they let me in this group and I'm not a Cheryl, a Margaret, or even a Ginger. But I think I would rather let a "Margaret" sell my house than a "Hot lips" "Bubbles" or "Cuddles".

Hey, I'll let you guys call me whatever you want if you'll just come over and sign my "Recent Visitors" log.  :)

Aug 14, 2008 06:23 AM
Sharon Wager
Hunt Real Estate - Camillus, NY
"Your Blue Jean Agent"

Good Question!  According to Cheryl G. I'm an almost Cheryl, and I am regularly (mistakenly) called Cheryl so often that I learned to just answer to it.  What's worse for me is my last name, 5 simple letters that everyone wants to turn into 6 (Wagner).  It's worse because I chose to use that name when I married thinking it was easier than my maiden name! 

Aug 18, 2008 08:06 AM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Kevin - Thanks for inspecting my blog.  Of Corsa, your always welcome.  Ok, I'll stop now because I wager that Sharon would find it corny.

Sharon, I do see how you would be called Cheryl a lot.  I, too, pretty much answer to any variation!!!  Thank you forstopping by and the introduction.

Aug 18, 2008 10:19 AM
Sharon Wager
Hunt Real Estate - Camillus, NY
"Your Blue Jean Agent"

LOL - It is corny, but I'm still laughing!  Kevin, I can honestly say that I'm laughing with you, not at you, because that was a double whammy Margaret dished out.  She's got a sense of humor, doesn't she???

Aug 18, 2008 10:27 AM
Cheryl Willis
RE/MAX Solutions- OZARK MISSOURI - Mount Vernon, MO
MO Broker - Mt Vernon, Monett, Aurora, Barry & Law

Hot Lips,  good to see that you are having fun with the name thing.  Nice thing about groups is that once you get over the first couple of posts, it seems everyone is friends and you don't get left hanging.  I am excited to see that we had a couple of more sign in.  I might have to design a coffee mug that says:  MY Name is CHERYL and I am a BLOGGER!   be good  cw

Aug 18, 2008 10:28 AM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Margaret, (and the rest of you Cheryls) are also always welcome at my blogs. Hey maybe you could all stop by and join my recent visitors log, (so it doesn't look so lonely). Lol.... Of Corsa, I've never heard that one before.....hmm.        Have a great one!

Aug 18, 2008 11:10 PM
Michael Cole
CPG Tours - Corona, CA

Hi Margaret,

(lol-lol) This is a pretty funny post. I have one of those names that everybody has. So, you can call me anything. But if you're including nicknames, you can't foget about 40s singer Peggy Lee. Or, movie star Ann-Margret. And what about Meg Ryan? And you have to include a Margarita as a favorite drink (even though it's not a person).

But the most important Margaret of all...

 

Aug 19, 2008 12:49 AM
Cheryl Willis
RE/MAX Solutions- OZARK MISSOURI - Mount Vernon, MO
MO Broker - Mt Vernon, Monett, Aurora, Barry & Law

I think we all need to go show Kevin a little attention,  I signed in this morning.  cw

Aug 19, 2008 01:02 AM
Kevin Corsa
H.I.S. Home Inspections (Summit, Stark Counties) - Canton, OH
H.I.S. Home Inspections, Stark & Summit County, OH Home Inspector

Cheryl,

Thank you so much!

Kevin (ever so grateful) Corsa

Aug 19, 2008 02:37 AM
Patrick Randles
Nova Home Loans - Tucson, AZ

Interesting to think about. I started life as Patrick and went all the way through college as Pat. When I got into the car business, there was another Patrick working at the dealership so the manager wanted to use my middle name, Mike. That didn't work, but they thought I looked like Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump so they started calling me "Gump". Ouch! But for the past 10 years or so, it has been Patrick, so sooner or later, we all return to our roots?

Aug 19, 2008 02:56 AM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Hi Michael - I didn't know the Simpson baby was named Margaret!!!!  i lived in Spain for four years and I was ALWAYS called Margarita there!

Patrick - You might be right since I to have gone back to my original name.

Thank you both for stopping by!

Aug 20, 2008 02:30 AM
Michael Cole
CPG Tours - Corona, CA

Hi Margaret,

Well, they call her "Maggie" - so, I'm assuming her real name must be Margaret. ; )

Aug 20, 2008 07:32 AM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Ohhhh, yes, I think you are right, Mike!!!

Aug 21, 2008 12:00 AM