The Big Name Newsletter, Issue #1

In this issue:

• A Rotary Recap & What Sparked
• Upcoming Name Fluency Workshop (Free!)
• Guest Post: The Perils of a Pen Name
• Latest from the Blog: What Your Name Does to Your Brain
• Invite Me to Speak to Your Group

What Happens When We Talk About Names

This past week I had the pleasure of speaking at the Montpelier Rotary, sharing my presentation “Ten Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Names” — and it was a hit.

The attendees were engaged, bringing up everything from cultural differences and nicknames to how parents navigate their child’s name being mishandled at school. Several came up afterward to say they’d never considered how rich the topic of names is and share stories about their own names. One Rotarian emailed me afterward,

“I was struck by the depth of material that this topic suggests… there are so many aspects of naming that we seldom consider.”

I was asked if the Museum will ever have a physical location - I hope so! - and how to get started with Name Fluency.

In that spirit, I’m opening up a free Name Fluency mini-workshop this coming Thursday for anyone who’d like to learn more. It’s a one-hour online session that covers how names work in the brain, how they convey culture and shape relationships, and how attention to one small detail can pay big dividends. Details below.

In this first issue of The Big Name, I’m also excited to highlight a guest reflection by author M. M. De Voe, whose search for the “right” pen name — and the pressures around it — will resonate with anyone who's ever felt the promise, mystery, or weight of their own name.

And if you’re curious about neuroscience and how names get programmed into our brains from an early age, check out my Wake Word blog post.

Thank you for your early support and your belief in this work, and welcome aboard!

—Kaomi

✍️ Guest Post: What’s in a Pen Name?

by M. M. De Voe

In this vulnerable and fiercely intelligent piece, the writer M. M. De Voe traces her journey from a Lithuanian childhood in Texas, through name-based teasing, identity shifts, and industry pressure, in pursuit of a name that fits both her voice and her values. Then, once she thinks she has nailed it, technology comes along to shake things up once again.

The Museum of Names is proud to share this piece that highlights the complex relationship with each of us has with our names - whether we have had reason to know it or not.

👉 Read the full post »

Your Name Fluency Workshop

If you were giving a workshop about your name, what would you include? Are there things you’ve always wondered about? Things you wish other people knew?

In Name Fluency workshops, we unpack concepts about naming, but they’re always flanked by the personal. That’s part of the power of names - they bridge the individual and the collective; the intimate and the societal. When we explore names, we’re not just learning facts, we’re learning to see people more fully - including ourselves.

🎟️ Free Online Mini-Workshop: Intro to Name Fluency
🗓️ June 26, 2025 | 11:00–11:45am ET
🧠 Learn how names shape trust, identity, and belonging
👉 Reserve Your Spot

You’ll leave with practical tools, surprising insights, and a fresh lens on how names shape connection, culture, and belonging.

Thanks for subscribing to The Big Name, the monthly publication of the Museum of Names. We’re just getting started—and your presence here matters. Can’t get enough? Our website is growing steadily! Bookmark www.museumofnames.com and visit often.