Eric is the name that was chosen for me. I am fairly alright with it; although I find it a strange-sounding name when spoken in modern contexts, the Nordic reference pleases the mythology buff in me for some reason.

Names are odd. They are a practical necessity for our everyday lives, certainly, but that they are given without the consent of the actual recipients can have some pretty major consequences when it comes to basic social interactions. Whatever sequence of letters is selected for you will appear on your birth certificate, social insurance information, epitaph -- everything -- and it is unnerving to note that the selection method was probably based on parental preferences, and nothing in particular was done to earn it. That one should be most easily identified by one of the few things about one's identity that is completely controlled by others . . . is, again, quite odd. <_< >_>

Some of the Aboriginal traditions sound fairly interesting, what with the granting of names based upon a display of character under stress, and certainly there would be more pride associated with one's name under such circumstances than in our own culture . . . :\