I have always thought my name isn’t unique. All the way from first grade in my classes there has always been a “Natalie and a second Natalie”, I was always “second Natalie” which I never liked. I feel like I am the Natalie that nobody knows or the one that was unpopular.

I’ve wished for a while now that I had a more unique and fun name like my older sister Nicole. She has always been the “creative one” and I’ve been jealous of that label ever since I was little. My parents didn’t give my sister and I middle names because when we get married our last name will become our maiden names. I feel like my name is missing something like a middle name to spice things up. There are so many girls named Natalie like me and I just feel basic and not special.

As I’ve gotten older and time has gone by, I have learned to like my name more. I have met some wonderful and kind people that have made me feel better about my name and feel special. I feel like I’ve gotten to know my family and friends more and that has made me more comfortable, especially in my own skin. I have gotten to love my self more and my name.

Over the years I have developed some pretty interesting and cool nicknames. My most common one is Nabs, and I have lots more based off of that one such as, Nabbles, Nabblefry, Naberella, and much more. Most of my friends and family call my Nabs, which I love!

I didn’t originally love my name, but I’ve learned that my name isn’t all that bad, I mean I have some pretty sweet nicknames, and I wouldn’t have those with out being named Natalie. For my mothers whole life she has wanted to name her daughter Natalie and knowing that makes me feel like it belongs and that makes me happy and love it even more. I now know my name and it makes me feel so happy and confident in myself. I couldn’t imagine myself with any other name but Natalie.