Quote Originally Posted by Shay
FWIW- You could (like I do) use a nickname/variant on all non-totally-official paperwork. An old friend of mine goes by Shane and his first name is Shannon*, unless it's something like applying for a copy of his birth certificate, he 's fine. I don't think I've written "Shannon" on a paper in years except for my driver's license. There are ways to get around an unfortunate name, especially if your parents gave you a cool middle name or the full form of the first. (You can do something with Alexander no matter how formal or casual you want to be, but if your folks name you Zander, you've got no backup that looks good on your law degree.)

*Yes, I know five Shannons (and one Siannon), and even dated one once. There's a lot of American Irish around here, it's a popular name. There was actually another Shannon with the same surname as me in high school- I've done a serious study of how to use nicknames and how far that can be pushed.
My bad peepers can not see that blasted gray text.

Actually, Dreadbelly has long been a nickname of mine... It has followed me through much of my teenage years right in to adulthood. I'll let people figure it out on their own to figure out why I am called that.

I have gone by my middle name. Infact, once I started putting that on job applications, I started getting hired.