NATIONAL
JOE DAY
National Joe Day is a day for people who don’t like their first names. For the entirety of March 27, everyone can simply address you as Joe. More broadly, it is a name to celebrate all things Joe. For example, you can drink “joe” (a slang term for coffee), express gratitude for veterans’ military service (G.I. Joes), or eat sloppy joes. Or you could celebrate fictional characters named Joe, like Snoopy’s alias Cool Joe from Peanuts, or Glass Joe from Punch-Out.
Personally, I’m not interested in changing my name. I’m neutral towards it, neither hating nor liking the sound of it. But to others, names are an important part of their identity. And many want to change that identity, feeling that the one assigned to them at birth no longer fits the individual they are today. Which brings us to the question: what would make someone want to change their name?
First are the serious issues: if you’ve had a serious falling-out with your family, you might want to change your last name to separate yourself from them conceptually as well as physically. Secondly, if you are transgender, you may change your birth name to a new one that better fits your gender identity. Then come the less serious reasons: people just might not like the sound of their name, or want a name that sounds cooler.
People want to change their names for many reasons, and National Joe Day is the perfect day to do so… but what if your name is Joe?
Kavya Seth