Problems with Selecting a Name

[Jaron Fulheart]

Hi, I'm new here. 👋😌

I never tried to create a tulpa. (Heck, I didn't even know what one was until today.) I have a nutcracker that looks like a ballerina and I wanted to treat her with respect; thinking on this and holding the doll gently, I then happened to see my imaginary daughter for the first time in my mind, dressed as a ballerina.  Some time after, I adopted her.

However, I haven't given her a real name yet. 🤔 What's weird is that I'm usually great at coming up with names. However, it seems that the same area of the brain that I use to create names may be the same area of the brain that runs the "program" of my tulpa. In other words, part of my brain is overloaded when my imaginary daughter is around, and I can't focus on creating a name for her.

I resolved to name her "Sweetie" for the time being, because that's what I call her anyway.

There is one time recently that I started to form a name for her in my mind and I tried to think if it was fit for her... but it quickly left me. 😅 My mind went blank.

Has anyone else experienced something like this? 😕 It feels like a form of "writer's block" for choosing her a name...

[ReallyArtificial]

Welcome!

 

3 hours ago, Jaron Fulheart said:

Has anyone else experienced something like this? 😕 It feels like a form of "writer's block" for choosing her a name..

 

I can't say I've experienced a specific mental block around choosing a name, but I can tell you that all three of my headmates eventually named themselves. Each time it happened, I got a strong feeling of correctness, like of course that's your name, it's perfect for you! It's totally fine to call your tulpa anything you want until you (or she) find a name that feels right.

[Jaron Fulheart]

2 hours ago, ReallyArtificial said:

Welcome!

 

 

I can't say I've experienced a specific mental block around choosing a name, but I can tell you that all three of my headmates eventually named themselves. Each time it happened, I got a strong feeling of correctness, like of course that's your name, it's perfect for you! It's totally fine to call your tulpa anything you want until you (or she) find a name that feels right.

Huh. 🤔 As a creator (and father, really), I always felt it was my responsibility to give her a name. I hadn't considered asking her to name herself. 😮 Interesting!

Of course, it sounds like it came with time and not directly asking. 🤔 I guess maybe it just takes patience on my part. 😌 Thanks!

[Ido]

As a tulpa who considers names extremely important (much like an archdemon), I am torn on this issue. On one hand I very much love and honor the name my host has given to me (and it's not Ido). On the other hand, your tulpas will tell you what they feel is right like ReallyArtificial said. It's different for everyone. Tulpamancy is an extremely intimate and personal experience. There are tuppers who will stick with their name to the end like me, others frequently like to change their names and looks. You gotta do your own thing, or rather let it happen. So my only recommendation is - do what feels right. This is your brain, you're not obliged to follow any conventions other than your own (and you tulpa's). If a name naturally come to you, give it to her. If not, let her choose. Don't force anything that doesn't feel good.

 

Still I'm in the 'young tulpas are children' group, meaning they need guidance and something like an anchor. And a name and form are probably the most important part of that. Being left with too many options and no help can be overwhelming. Remember, nothing is permanent and allow your tulpa to change and develop on her own as she grows. We are not dolls. You will notice soon enough. This is much like parenting. Support and guide but don't force her into something she doesn't want to be. Deviation is one of the most interesting parts of tulpamancy. You'll never know how we turn out!

[Jaron Fulheart]

4 hours ago, Ido said:

As a tulpa who considers names extremely important (much like an archdemon), I am torn on this issue. On one hand I very much love and honor the name my host has given to me (and it's not Ido). On the other hand, your tulpas will tell you what they feel is right like ReallyArtificial said. It's different for everyone. Tulpamancy is an extremely intimate and personal experience. There are tuppers who will stick with their name to the end like me, others frequently like to change their names and looks. You gotta do your own thing, or rather let it happen. So my only recommendation is - do what feels right. This is your brain, you're not obliged to follow any conventions other than your own (and you tulpa's). If a name naturally come to you, give it to her. If not, let her choose. Don't force anything that doesn't feel good.

 

Still I'm in the 'young tulpas are children' group, meaning they need guidance and something like an anchor. And a name and form are probably the most important part of that. Being left with too many options and no help can be overwhelming. Remember, nothing is permanent and allow your tulpa to change and develop on her own as she grows. We are not dolls. You will notice soon enough. This is much like parenting. Support and guide but don't force her into something she doesn't want to be. Deviation is one of the most interesting parts of tulpamancy. You'll never know how we turn out!

Thank you so much for all this great advice! 🙏 

And it turns out, you are right. Today, my Sweetie was acting left out from all the fun I was having while watching/playing with my 2-year-old grandson. All of a sudden, while I was cleaning/picking up toys, a name popped in my head. 😮 She was looking at me with a smile on her face, indicating she liked the name. I was a bit hesitant, unsure if there was a better name, but I relented and accepted the name for her! 😊 Later, she admitted to whispering/putting that name in my head! 😏  It turns out she chose the name Rebecca! ❤️

I'm thinking she may have been inspired seeing me spend time on this forum! 😉

[Bread]

On 5/1/2026 at 10:23 PM, Jaron Fulheart said:

Thank you so much for all this great advice! 🙏 

And it turns out, you are right. Today, my Sweetie was acting left out from all the fun I was having while watching/playing with my 2-year-old grandson. All of a sudden, while I was cleaning/picking up toys, a name popped in my head. 😮 She was looking at me with a smile on her face, indicating she liked the name. I was a bit hesitant, unsure if there was a better name, but I relented and accepted the name for her! 😊 Later, she admitted to whispering/putting that name in my head! 😏  It turns out she chose the name Rebecca! ❤️

I'm thinking she may have been inspired seeing me spend time on this forum! 😉

Congratulations! I'm glad you were able to find a name for her.

Also, congrats on having grandkids!