As one student shared, “Saying our names right shows respect and makes us feel like we belong.” A name is more than just a word — it’s a part of who we are. When teachers and classmates take the time to learn and say names correctly, it shows that we are seen, valued, and respected. The stories below are from real students sharing why names matter.

My name means a lot to me

When people say my name wrong and pronounce it like Shivey instead of Shivay, it honestly makes me feel pretty bad. My name means a lot to me—it’s part of who I am and where I come from. When someone says it the wrong way, especially if they don’t even try to say it right, it feels like they don’t really care about my identity.

Shivay comes from the name Shiva, a very important god in the Hindu religion. Lord Shiva is known as the god who destroys evil and brings change. The name Shivay means “of Shiva” or “belonging to Shiva,” and it has a strong and spiritual meaning.

So when people say it like Shivey, it not only sounds weird, but it also takes away the meaning behind my name. It can feel kind of disrespectful, even if they didn’t mean it that way.

I always appreciate it when someone asks how to say my name correctly or makes an effort to get it right. It shows they respect me and my background, and that really means a lot.

By Shivay, Student

Repeatedly asking me to pronounce my name

Having a Thai name like mine is something I take pride in because it reflects my culture and identity. However, I’ve often found it challenging when many people repeatedly asked me to pronounce my name, “Thitirat Akaravuthiyarn,”. I understand that Thai names can be difficult to pronounce, but being asked to say it over and over in front of everyone often made me feel singled out and different.

When I was in grade 9, a teacher suggested I use my nickname, “Bam,” as my preferred name in school. It was a great idea, as it made things easier for everyone and saved me from having to correct people constantly. In Thai culture, it’s common for everyone to have a nickname because full names are often long and complex. However, even after I started using my nickname, there were still times when people questioned why I didn’t go by my full name. I’ve had to explain the cultural significance of nicknames in Thailand countless times. While I appreciate curiosity, it can feel tiring to repeatedly justify something that’s a normal part of my identity and culture. I believe that making an effort to pronounce students’ names correctly is a meaningful way to foster respect and inclusivity in the classroom. If a name is unfamiliar, kindly ask the student how to say it and then try to remember it as that can make a big difference in helping them feel acknowledged and valued.

By Bam Akaravuthiyarn, Student

Every name tells a unique story

As I first came to Canada, I faced this issue everywhere. People still mispronounce my name. I often feel a mix of emotions. At first it is a bit frustrating for me as my name is part of my identity. For me, hearing my name said incorrectly can make me feel like a part of who I am is not being recognized. Everyone with a unique name has to undergo this. Many immigrants consider adopting a more “Canadian” sounding name to ease communication, which according to me lead to a sense of loss regarding their cultural identity. My name, Khaanik, has its own beauty and meaning, and I want others to appreciate it too. Rather than changing my name, I prefer correcting people when they mispronounce my name.

During my initial days at university, professors and classmates struggled with my name. Some would hesitate and others would attempt and fail. These moments were uncomfortable and made me feel like an outsider. There was this time when I thought of considering a short name but I realized that would mean losing a connection between my cultural identity. Instead, I use certain techniques, such as pronouncing my name slowly and using phonetic breakdown of my name.

To conclude, I believe that name should be celebrated rather than simplified. Every name tells a unique story and I want mine to be heard and respected. Embracing my name makes me feel proud of who I am and where I come from. I would always prefer correcting others than changing it.

By Khaanik, Student

Should I have changed my name?

I first came to Canada from Mexico in 2007. Moving here I was in the first grade and did not speak any English therefore was difficult for me to interact with my teachers and students. Before my first day of school I was asked by my parents if I wanted to change my name to go by my middle name instead of my first name as my middle name Elizabeth was much easier to pronounce. I thought about it for a moment and was leaning in to the idea however my parents advised against it as they loved the name they had given me. As years went by I often look back at that moment and think that maybe I should have changed my name as all my life I get questions about where my name is from and many often try to pronounce it right but to this day only a handful of people are able to pronounce it correctly. Today I find myself not self-conscious about my name but rather feel proud as sharing my name leads me to sharing my Mexican background for which I am proud about therefore am glad that I listened to my parents and kept my first name.

By Fatima, Student

Why Pronouns are Important to me>

Pronouns carry personal importance to me because they enable us to honor the identity of others. People express their personal identity and their preferred way of presentation to others through pronoun sharing. The correct use of pronouns enables people to recognize gender identities while establishing respectful connections in their interactions. Any unintentional misusage of pronouns against someone results in serious negative impacts on their sense of belonging which highlights the importance of proper pronoun usage. Your acceptance of someone’s identity becomes clear when you use “they/them” pronouns for those who identify that way without considering physical characteristics or social conventions.

Individuals should select pronouns based on the gender expression preferences of others. People who ask for pronouns must accept the chosen pronouns without hesitation. During your first interaction always present your pronouns before your name through a statement like “My name is Jashanpreet and I use she.” People feel more comfortable revealing their pronouns when others practice this habit. Every person possesses distinct gender identity traits which makes it improper to make assumptions about someone’s gender identity.

The proper use of pronouns breaks stereotypes and builds spaces where people demonstrate increased compassion toward one another. Using correct pronouns represents a small yet powerful method to make someone feel recognized and valued. Proper pronoun usage protects personal identity and creates inclusive spaces for all people and provides equal treatment to everyone regardless of gender identity.

By Jashanpreet, Student

Feeling invisible

My name is Navpreet, and in my culture, this name has particular significance. In Punjabi, Navpreet means new love since “nav” means new and “preet” means love. Even though I know that mispronouncing my name is frequently unintentional, it still feels like a tiny aspect of who I am is being ignored.

Hearing my name being said correctly makes me feel seen, appreciated, and respected because names are very personal and connected to who we are.

When someone mispronounces my name, I try to smile and politely correct them, explaining the correct way to say it. The majority of people value the effort to learn my name, and these conversations frequently develop into significant occasions where I can share a bit of my culture. When someone repeatedly mispronounces or ignores correctly pronouncing my name, it can become irritating. I feel invisible in certain situations because sometimes people don’t even bother asking how to pronounce my name or ask if they are pronouncing it correctly. I’ve also been in situations where people ask if they can just use a shorter name or avoid using my whole name and instead just call me Nav without asking which can feel frustrating.

One effective method to promote inclusion is to take the effort to learn and pronounce someone’s name correctly. It shows that their identity is respected and cared for. Even a simple question like asking if we are saying their name right can make someone feel respected. In my opinion putting in a little effort says a lot about the values of a community that welcomes everyone.

By Navpreet, Student

Little Effort Meant A Lot

I have always been quite proud to have a unique name back in India. Whenever anyone used to ask for my name, I would say “Japrose” and I still remember some of the surprised expressions, as it was the first time they ever heard of this name. Then people would often ask for the meaning of my name, which I would explain something like: In my native language Punjabi, ‘Jap’ means ‘taking God’s name’ and ‘Rose’ means ‘everyday’, so ‘Japrose’ refers to a person who takes God’s name everyday which is a very religious part in my culture.

In Canada, I often find it difficult to make others pronounce my name in the first go and most of the times, people forget my name because it is too difficult for them to memorize. After several incidents when people mispronounced my name, I opted for a nickname, ‘Rose’. Honestly, it was not a wrong decision as people find it a lot easier to remember, but I have also found some people who memorized my full name, and that little effort meant a lot. Even though it might not seem like a big thing to others, but for me it makes me feel like they do really care about me.

By Japrose, Student

Changing my name when Looking for Work

Another experience that I would like to share is when I graduated and was looking for a job based on my qualifications. I think this experience was more emotionally challenging compared to my first job search. During my job hunt after graduation, I was feeling more confident and had hopes of securing a desired position because I had put in a lot of hard work in my academics, graduated with distinction and an honors degree. However, day after day, my hopes were crushed when I did not hear back from 100s of jobs that I had applied for. I was feeling discouraged and did not know what went wrong. One of my friends recommended me to change my name and shorten it on the resume header to make it look more like an “English” name. My friend told me that this would at least help me in getting an interview and after hearing this I felt very disappointed with the harsh reality of this world. I decided not to change it because I did not want to change my identity in anyway.

Reflection question: How can universities better prepare and support international students in navigating systemic barriers in the job market (particularly those related to identity, discrimination, and name-based bias) without forcing them to assimilate or compromise their sense of self?

By Gurman, Alumni