My name has been a great source of amusement and frustration for me since I left Iran. Thanks to my parents and the Passport office in Tehran, my name was spelled Houman. Most people pronounce this as "How - man" at best. This gets quickly changed to Hunan during most initial meetings. I'm assuming this because my name looks similar to Chinese region. On a ticket, an officer spelled my name as Holiman replacing the U by LI. When I went to court, the judge kept calling for Holiman with an unpronounceable last name. It took me a few minutes to realize that was me.I didn't dare correct him. At the end, he announced case against Holiman is dismissed because there was no one to content.
My Starbucks name is Joe. I use Joe Houman for restaurant reservations. I've thought about changing my name officially to Joe Houman or Hank Shafie or many other variations. I know a lot of people in UK and US that have gone through the name change. The process seems painless but I can't bring myself to do this. It might be because I don't have any brothers or sons to carry the name. My daughters bring up the possibility of changing "our" last name. It's now our last name and not solely my choice.
I've had various nicknames since leaving Iran. I went by Shafie while at boarding school in England. Towards the end it was changed to Ponch after Officer Poncherello on CHiPs for those of you old enough to remember that show. This stayed with me through college in Miami. When I got my first real job in Boston I went back to Houman. I've flirted with some other names, my favorite being Sebastian Ibis.
I'd like my name pronounced "who" + "man" or "Who Da Man" without the "DA". The kids in my old neighborhood in Arizona created a cheer for me" Who Da Man? Houman".
If you thought my last name was wait till I explain the pronunciation of my last name.
