Royal Wedding Makeover -What's in your name? Kate Middleton - the Personal Brand

Written on the 16 April 2011 by Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist, Author and Speaker

What’s in a Name? Really how important is your name to your personal brand?

When Kate Middleton gets a Royal Makeover will that include a new and improved name?
In the Jewish culture they believe your name is a prophetic utterance of your true nature. Hence, they changed their names as they grew or changed in nature. I strongly feel that our name is a true indication of our purpose, or the manner in which we are to fulfill our purpose.

If you are concerned about the meaning or character of your name, look for a deeper meaning than just the superficial meaning.
Are you being true to your name?

Let’s consider Kate Middleton’s dilemma.
Kate is an English name, meaning innocent and a Godly example. While Catherine is of Greek origin; meaning pure and accountable.

When we recall the name Kate: a number of people also come to mind. Kate Moss, Kate Hudson, Kate Price and Kate Bush. When we consider Catherine; Catherine the Great and Katharine Hepburn immediately come to mind. No doubt we could think of several more.

Certainly Catherine has a more regal feel. While Kate, a more common and popular version, has a girl next door, nature, human and approachable feel.

Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of King Henry VIII was a born fighter. But she died battling for her rights as Queen. Her daughter was Queen Mary or “Bloody Mary”. So maybe not, the best story to draw inspiration from.

While Katharine Hepburn has maintained to honor the Queen of Hollywood, the only actress to win four Oscar awards. Her father a Doctor and her mother a suffragette, both of whom always encouraged her to speak her mind, develop it fully, and exercise her body to its full potential. Much better brand name association.

When building your personal brand, your name is incredibly important. Look at celebrities who have altered their tag – Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs. The abbreviation and move away from their full and correct name resulted in mixed messages, confusion and a lot of ridicule.

Brand Association is also important when determining your personal brand. When your name comes to mind what else is associated with your name. It is important to consider this. Better to have a positive, memorable association rather than negative. Hence the reason lucrative endorsements are lost by celebrities when they and their name creates negative media and has a less favorable association then it did in the past.

Kate Middleton’s character and manner align her more to the regal Katharine Hepburn personal brand characteristics and is the preferred association.

It terms of etiquette using your full and correct name is the proper manner to introduce yourself. I love the meaning of the word etiquette which is French for “ticket”. In most circles, good etiquette is still the ticket.

One thing that the Jewish culture also did which is fascinating was change their name as their character changed or if they wished to change their character.

Growing up from a young, innocent girl to become an inspiring royal; certainly warrants the progressive realization of Kate to Catherine.

Read more about how to position and strengthen your personal brand at http://www.brandyourselfbook.com

About the author: Rachel Quilty, Personal Brand Strategist, known as ‘the Authority’ on personal branding and author of must- have book ‘Brand Yourself’ now available at http://www.brandyourselfbook.com .

Rachel regularly speaks at seminars, conferences and workshops on personal branding, professional image and developing your signature brand.

Rachel has also been featured in Australia on the Today show as well various national radio programs. She has also been featured in national press including the Sun Herald and the Weekend Australian and popular magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Cleo and Marie Claire.

Rachel encourages Jump the Q clients to strategically and systematically leverage your professional profile and build your personal brand to become the authority in your industry.

We assist you to develop your Personal Brand Strategy by:
- Discovering your purpose.
- Designing your best personal brand.
- Devising a personal marketing plan.
- Developing your Signature Brand.

Brand Yourself! and Jump the Q! http://www.JumptheQ.com.au FREE strategic style tips to build your Personal Brand and Develop your Signature Style www.brandyourselfblueprint.com. Your brand should reflect your abilities and potential. With our Personal Branding Action Plan and Strategic Style sessions -brand yourself for success. Get your FREE Strategic Q Style Tips today!

Improving your brand is an investment in building your personal profile, reputation and the results you will achieve.

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