True story: I only started using my married name of Zelenka when I discovered that annetruitt.com was not available. The late Anne Truitt was a semi-famous sculptor and it seems her family scored the domain name — about a month before I thought to do it. Curses!
Now I wish I had gone with AnneDTruitt.com (my middle name being Duncan) and then I’m sure at this point I’d give Anne Truitt the sculptor a serious run for Google juice. That way all my high school classmates, ex-boyfriends of course included, would know that I’m now a minor Internet celebrity. Someone called me that once, and I told my husband triumphantly, and now it’s part of our family mythology.
Perhaps at the next conference I go to, I’ll list that as my profession: Anne Truitt Zelenka, Minor Internet Celebrity
I’m writing a book and it kills me to think that people who knew me as Anne Truitt will never know that I got a book published! Except the flip side of that is I’m writing a book with productivity tips, and shouldn’t I, as Denver’s 1986 Teenager of the Year, write something more erudite and learned?
The point of it all is that names are serious these days because it matters how you show up in the Google rankings. Name your children well. And marry well if you’re a woman. Choose a man with an unusual last name and you will go far, grasshopperette. Perhaps even to minor Internet celebrityhood.
7 Comments
Funny thing is I own stephencollins.org as well. stephencollins.com is taken by the somewhat famous actor. Try googling “stephen collins”. There I am at 4th and 8th…
My first husband’s name was Miller.
I am now re-married. I swear Internet ranking had nothing to do with it.
Or did it?
Dear Minor Internet Celebrity,
After SXSW listed my name among some speakers under a heading that said “Industry Experts” my friend always addresses me as Industry Expert. She thinks its hilarious. Unknown Industry Expert might be closer to the truth.
As a side note: register your child’s name as a domain at birth.
Classic, Anne. I love that you remain grounded, while at the same time celebrating your (much-envied) successes. By any other name, you remain one of the finest reads of my day. Cheers!
I hated the funny Zelenka surname growing up, then grew to embrace it as I got to know my heritage and associated Czech culture (yes, it does exist). Glad to hear you’re getting the google benefits of the name without the last-in-from-recess (we lined up alphabetically) or the lame taunts of “Slinky Slinky” residue. As for me, I’ve been told there exists a DJ named “Rick Truitt”, so maybe….nah.
Sometimes I think I must be a fugitive from a Bonnie&Clyde film? I’ve legally changed my name several times for various legal reasons, and each time it becomes easier to shed the earlier identity. Only problem is that I’ve dutifully registered the past names with GoDaddy and now they ping me at expiration time and I have to decide…am I really DONE with this internet name? Or should I hold on to it for just one more year??? Ah, the decisions of modern life. thanks for a great post! G.