I am “Kimberly” not “Kim”.

I introduce myself as such and will immediately correct you when you choose the diminutive.

Professionally, I require middle initial incorporation: “Kimberly M. Wetherell.”

I like the way the ‘M’ makes a mountain in the middle and how the ‘K’ and the double ‘l’s form peaks at either end; as if, when charted on a graph, the visual effect forms the letter ‘W’, which in and of itself is cool, since that’s the first letter of my surname.

I can't stand the way my name looks without that “M”. I can't describe it, but it's just not right.

If you believe in numerology, it’s interesting to note a couple of things:

By using the Pythagorean Numerical Chart (above) my full name, “Kimberly Marie Wetherell”, holds the mathematical value of 6, which is defined as “responsible, careful, and domestic,” which I’ll agree, I am to a certain extent, but I would never consider those to be my primary defining characteristics.

“Kim Wetherell” is valued at 6 as well.

“Kim,” all by itself, ALSO equals 6.

6? 6? 6? Is someone trying to tell me something?

Every now and then, someone slips in with a variation that doesn't totally make me want to puke.

I had a friend with Down’s Syndrome when I was a kid who called me “ ’berly,” since hard consonants were difficult for him. My niece, when she was little, called me “Aunt Timbly” for similar reasons and my father has run the gamut of every possible version, ranging from “Kimbo”, “Kimbalah”, “Kimberlino”, and his very favorite: “Kimber (pause for effect) Leigh.”

“You know?” He says with a chuckle and a nudge 'cause he thinks you won’t get it; “L-E-I-G-H. Like Janet… or Vivian.”

And for as much eye-rolling as it causes every time he says it, it has become my default alter-ego when I don't want to see my own name splattered all over the credit scroll, like so many other indie DIY filmmakers.

Unfortunately, it’s also the name of a Porn Star…

But to be honest, I think that would make my Dad laugh even harder, considering that he told me on my 16^th birthday that I was finally eligible to become a hostess at Hooters.

Regardless, I hold no animosity towards those names. It’s not that I don’t like the name “Kim” or feel some strong kinship with others of my nomenclature. I have several “Kim” friends. I get giddy when there’s a character in a play, film or song named “Kim” and I get a little pissed off when Nora Ephron treats the full version of the name with such disdain in her films:

SALLY:
“He’s getting married. … She works in his office. She’s a paralegal. Her name is Kimberly.”

KATHLEEN KELLY:
"… As if you were one of those stupid 22-year-old girls with no last name. "Hi, I'm Kimberly." "Hi, I'm Janice." What's wrong with them? Don't they know you're supposed to have last names?It's like they're a whole generation of cocktail waitresses."

A colleague even told me that my name sounded like a tragic heroine in a Jane Austen novel.

It seems to me that folks equate “Kimberly” as either a rebound bride, a brainless one-name wonder, or a sequestered prude with impossibly high morals.

So why not “Kim”? It’s cute. Perky. Fun.

I’m cute. I’m perky. I’m fun.

It’s just that none of those other versions feel right for me.

- - - - -

As it turns out, “Kimberly” is the Pythagorean equivalent of 5.

“Adventurous, mercurial, and sensual.”

Yeah, I can see that...

And professionally speaking, “Kimberly M. Wetherell” works out to a value of 9.

“Multi-talented, compassionate, and global.”

Everything a director aims to be, for sure.

So if I’m to go with Pythagoras, both versions of my given name that I choose to be called, totally and completely reflect the person I like to think I am.

Maybe the Kabbalists are onto something…

Hm. Maybe not.

- - - - -

"What's in a name?
That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

-- Romeo and Juliet (Act II, sc 2)

Juliet tells Romeo that a name is an artificial and meaningless convention and that she loves the person who is called "Montague" but not the Montague name.

Romeo replies:

“My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself
Because it is an enemy to thee.
Had I it written, I would tear the word.”

-- Romeo and Juliet (Act II, sc 2)

WHAT???? He’s going to renounce his name, his identity, his SELF, for some hot chick he just met at a party?

Maybe it’s a good idea.

"Montague" equals 6.

So does "Capulet".