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What's in a name? (It's why Shania Twain would still need identification in my office.)
People sometimes walk into my office and say something like: “Can you just stamp this?” Or, “It’s just a signature.”
But after more than thirteen years as a notary in Greater Victoria, I can tell you something with certainty: It’s almost never just a signature.
One of the first things I do when someone sits down at my desk is confirm their name. It sounds simple enough. Until you realize that names are rarely as straightforward as we think.
Most people assume they have one name. In reality, many of us carry several.
There’s the name on your birth certificate. The name your parents called you growing up. The name on your driver’s licence, and the name on your passport.
There might be a married name, a hyphenated name, or a professional name. Sometimes there’s a nickname that has followed someone for decades.
One of the quiet pleasures of practicing in Greater Victoria, is meeting people whose names reflect traditions from all over the world. In some cultures, a person carries two family names. In others, the family name appears before the given name.
From a human perspective, they all belong to the same person. From a legal perspective, the exact name matters.
Even famous people navigate this! The Jamaican reggae legend the world known as Bob Marley was born Robert Nesta Marley.
Canadian singer Shania Twain was born Eilleen Regina Edwards. Toronto musician Drake was born Aubrey Drake Graham.
Different names... same person.
But when someone sits across the desk from me signing something important, my job is to pause for a moment and make sure the name on the page truly belongs to the person holding the pen. Because confirming identity is never “just” anything. And a signature is never just a signature.
After years in this profession, I’ve learned something simple: People may carry many names through life. But when it’s time to sign something important, the right one matters.
Not naming names,
Beverly
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