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In Poland people have a neat life hack for that problem. They have other names for non-polish folk to use. Eg pawek, tomek, bartek rather than have people mangle their real name.

My name got changed when I moved to Spain and it never bothered me, while I have met people who took great offence at the use of standard nicks that they had not explicitly sanctioned in advance. I know a guy who makes a new name up for everyone he meets. Like or lump it. If you are too sensitive about your name, you risk people not using it at all.



Apropos Poland: the chess legend Miguel Najdorf.

He was in Argentina for the Chess Olympiad in 1939 when WW2 started, so he stayed and got stuck there. It's unlikely he'd be known as "Miguel" now if this had never happened.


I wonder how far back this practice goes. There are quite a few Polish-American last names which are like that, to the point that the original last name has been forgotten.

EDIT: Aha! this website has a guide on these names, and even dispells the Ellis Island explanation I was told as a kid: https://pgsctne.org/changed-surname-list/

They did it the same way you did.


I had a Polish American GF. I have no idea how to pronounce her last name. Also had an Austrian friend. When people asked how to pronounce his last name he'd say you can't.


It does goe both ways though. Take the time to learn how to say and spell someone’s name and it usually goes down well.

I say this while fully aware of my own butchering.




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