What's in a Name?

My name is Bryan. When people call me something else (Mr. Burningham, Brother Burningham or even President Burningham) I usually tell them to call me Bryan. When people write me an email and spell my name with the wrong vowel (Brian, uh ... makes me cringe) I usually respond in kind e.g. Carl becomes Curl.

Isn't my surname more telling about where I came from, which would have some influence on genetic dispositions? Some cultures place more emphasis on surnames. In Japan you commonly refer to someone by their surname.

The mathematician in me thinks that a name is just a variable used to distinguish one variable or person from another. In math common variables are x and y. If names didn't hold any value then we could swap names by letting z = x, x = y and y = z, and our variable's values are exactly the same just with different labels. People aren't like that though. I don't even like having my label spelled the "lame" way. Since it has such personal value then I ask the following questions:

What is in a name? How do we identify ourselves? Why do some people hold more to their surname then their given name or visa verse? Why do some people feel so strongly about their names that they give them to their kids?

Please do me a favor. Leave a comment and tell me what name you most identify yourself with - which name means more to you. Perhaps it is even a nickname. If you are really brave you can even venture a reason as to why. I'll start.

I identify more with Bryan. I believe this is so because when people use it is seems more friendly and informal ... close if you will.

Bryan