How do crossdressers and trans girls choose their femme name?

Choosing your New CD Femme Name 

 

Furrow your brow and think back carefully… just how did you get your femme name? And did you pick a femme name from the very first day you started cross dressing… or was your name something which just sort of came along or appeared some time later?

I must say that this is quite a fascinating subject, especially as many of us can’t really answer the question—indeed, most seem to say that their femme name just appeared…. and just felt right for them. Most names come from our sub-conscious, possibly very much like the first appearance of our inner female self: we don’t know where she came from or why she suddenly appeared—but once she was here, we had this innate feeling that she was here to stay, that she would be part of us forever!

In many ways, we are lucky that we are able to choose our femme names, whereas genetic women are at the likes, whims (or mercy) of their parents who often deliberate for ages to think about and select a name for their daughters. This freedom of choice gives us unlimited scope to choose whatever name we wish, and can go for a modern day name or one from the annals of time.  

Yet some of us are almost pre-ordained to have the names we choose and I feel quite sure there is a deeper side to femme names that can be explored ad infinitum; just why did we pick that name we choose, why did we need to label ourselves so; or why do we need to have a femme name at all—is it a tacit admission that there really are two souls or spirits within our one body? That we really are two people in one? Generally, it appears that many girls do not seem to pay as much attention to picking their last or surnames, which is not that surprising, as many girls only use and know others by their first names. 

But, back to the main question. From talking with a number of crossdressers and trans girls, the most common ways in which they derived their first femme names include the following:

  • Some girls simply make an extension to their male name, for example: Martin to Martina, Justin to Justine or Eric to Erica;
  • Some make subtle or single letter changes: Francis to Frances, Robin to Robyn or Tracy to Tracey; or they pick a name that has similar sound qualities to their male name: Bill to Lil; Harry to Marie or Keith to Cathy;
  • Others adopt names that are the same for both males and female and stay with the name they already have been given: say, Kim or Evelyn or Chris;
  • A number of crossdressers select their femme name by choosing the name of someone they may know who is related to them, now or from the past, such as an aunt, a former teacher or a school colleague—someone who may have exuded womanhood in the style and manner our crossdresser aspires to;
  • The selected name is the same as someone our CD/trans girl admires and looks up to, whether it be a celebrity or a famous sports person or singer;
  • The femme name was suggested by someone else; or, finally:
  • The right name just sort-of popped up into our conscious and stayed there; without us having to think about picking a femme name—and the name just seemed appropriate

I believe I fit into this last category… my femme name just, how can I say, appeared and became a part of me without me ever consciously realising it…

We also, as you would expect, have girls who feel the need to have more than one first name or hyphenate their name(s) (and why not, we are free to choose!). They choose names such: Christine Jane Jones or Kate Jennifer Smith or Tiffany Lori Johnson or Mary-Jane Wilson or Trixi-belle Angel…. and so on… 

Finally, of course there are those CD’s or trans girls who deliberate at length, choosing and discarding names, then choosing and discarding all over again— choosing several different names over a period of time until they find the one which they feel fits them best.

Whichever way you found your name, don’t ever forget that it is she (the one within) who makes the choice so don’t be too puzzled or perplexed about why your femme name is Emily or Julie or Amber or Snowdrop—as long as your inner lady is happy, roll with it!

So, how about you, where did your femme name come from? Comment in the comments section!


80 comments


  • patty swank

    I once knew an incredibly hot , powerful woman , that I would of given both my testicles to serve. her name was Patty. a true black haired beauty. I wanted to BE her. the last name …….. kinda made up. I love the fact that she (Patty ) kinda knows that I had it bad for her. she prob didn't know how bad , or in what way I had it for her, but she knew there was something …….


  • Brenda

    Hi Girls,
    I began cross dressing at age 5, I played with my next door neighbor and she was my age. She had a black dress that I loved, it was so pretty, and I wore it while we played every chance I got. I have Crossdressed ever since and LOVE being a girl!!!!! My femme name? Well it chose me, I did not choose it. One day I was sitting in a chair all dolled up when a thought came to my mind, " If I were a real, genetic girl, my name would be Brenda". It's very close to my make name, I like it and it seems to fit.

    I was at a clothes store and a young lady who helped me get into a dress in the fitting room asked me if I was transitioning and what my femme name was. When I said my femme name was Brenda, she said, "WoW!!, That fits you perfectly"!! I smiled and thanked her and walked out of the store with my head held high…

    Brenda Leigh West


  • Tanya

    Interesting topic, I am definitely in the last category. Tanya just popped into my head one time when I was fully dressed and admiring myself in the mirror. I have no idea where it came from and thought about changing it a couple of times, but figured why mess with divine intervention.


  • Adele Heart

    Several years ago at a fundraiser event, I performed and lip synched to Ann Wilson from heart. It was a blast and I admit, a bit thrilling. I now have a plan to perform as 2012 Grammy winning Adele at an amateur drag contest in the near future. I picked my en femme name as Adele Heart from the past and future experiences I would like to have.


  • Carollyn Faith Olson

    Great, thoughtful article, Kathy…my dear friend and co-contributor for En Femme. I chose my name a little bit different from many other girls. My first real "crush" was Carol when I was in the eighth grade. I wanted to honor her, as I always like the name, but did not want to go with just Carol. I also like the name Lynn, so I added Lyn to Carol and created Carollyn. My middle name, Faith, was simple and a tribute to my belief and faith in God. The last name of Olson is from my maternal grandmother's side of the family, who came to the USA in the 1870s from Norway. Thus, Carollyn Faith Olson was born over 30 years ago.


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