The Pree

"Hi. My name is Priyanka Shruti..." Should be how I introduce myself, but instead go by Pree, sometimes NinjaPree (twitter etc.).

Everyone calls me Pree now. Very few people call me Priyanka.

Priyanka means - the loved one, or loving eyes and other pretty meanings like that.
Shruti - is the melody/tune of the universe, and is a part of the Vedas (ancient Hindu philosophical literature). So profound.

My parents gave me two names because (apparently)  my dad's side gave me Shruti, and my mom's side gave me Priyanka (or the other way around). Priyanka was after Priyanka Gandhi (the then prime minister's daughter). Or maybe the name Priyanka was just "trending" at the time. Then they named my sister - Piyali Smriti, and we have the same initials, and my mom would dress us in matching clothes (we aren't twins).

I have no idea what people called me till I was age 5, but in Chennai, India everyone called me Priyanka. My friends called me Priya or Pri (and other nicknames!). Then high school in Calcutta happened and because there was a surplus of Priyanka's I was called by my last name.

Then I had to plan for college in the USA, and there was a form to be filled, which asked "You Name" and what you preferred to be called. So I thought I would try out Shruti. I thought it might be easier for Americans to say and it was shorter. Shruti was harder for them to pronounce than Priyanka, for them. it was also strange going by my middle name, which I had never used before. I would explain to my fellow classmates what my name meant and how it was pronounced - "Shrew + Tea", but the combination, and rolling the R a little was difficult for some. Just like the word "totally" morphs into "toadally" my name morphed into "Shrewdee". One of my biology lab mates said Shruti was too difficult, so he called me "Bob" and I was "Bob" for a whole semester. True Story! No I did not appreciate it.

When I moved to Ohio, I reverted back to Priyanka, this was because the college did not have the option of what you want to be called. Plus some Indian friends I made decided for them selves that they liked Priyanka better and it stuck. I did not mind at all. However my transition to Pree took place when I would go to this little cafe on Euclid Ave. Opposite Cleveland State University, called "Cafe Aroma"... they had the best sandwiches, however they would call out your name when your sandwich was ready, and you could pick it up from the counter. Spelling out Priyanka for them every time got so annoying so I would just spell out "Pri". They pronounced "Pri" as "Pry" like "try". Even manage to find a way to butcher my name in its abbreviated form! (Today I realize Pry like Ry - my bf!).

Ry and Pri!

The next day I decided to give them my order and my name as PREE! It worked! Pree like Tree! (those of you wondering, Priyanka is pronounced "Pree+yah+kaa", and no the "PriYANKa" is not like "Yankee", but more like "young" without the "g". Bengali people always managed to pronounce my name as "Pree+yon+ka", and South Indian's - "Pree+yung+gaah". So it's not only Americans who butcher my name. I have gotten called "Piranha" "Rhianna" "Briana" "Bianca", American Eagle sends me mail as "Pritanka". Some of these are world traveling/ "educated" people, you would think to be able to expect a little more from them, regarding efforts in pronouncing, but heck what do I know! I might be saying Tom wrong! :-P

My family has all sorts of nicknames for me, my sis has the most interesting names for me, including Deadly Deds! And I call her Pig. Yes these names expose our utter love and tolerance for each other; we were two very different, yet similar peas from the same pod! My boyfriend has his own nicknames for me. So I have been not Priyanka for a long time, and I have really embodied the "Pree" ness since 2003. Recently I tried to revert back to Priyanka, since my boyfriend and a few other people like Priyanka, however it is hard for me to be Priyanka (she sounds too proper). Either way I am ME, with my plethora of names. I love all the loving nicknames all my friends and family give me, from the most absurd to the most cute names!

Also found another Pree in the world, a guy whose actual name is Preetam, went by Pree! We became friends in the myspace days! So I'm not the only Pree, but most "Pree"s are awesome!



50 shades of Pree:

Little / Childhood Priyanka

Priyanka and Friends! (Becks, Deeps, and Pig)

Wicked Witch of the West Pree

Snow Pree

Very Indian Pree

Pree and Ry, and the Great Outdoors

Adventure Pree

The Manders and Pree

Harry Potter Themed Pree

Sporty Pree

Flying Pree

Business Pree

Yogi Pree

Cheeta Pree

Pree can be pretty!

Bicycling Pree, AKA "Helmet Head" Courtesy Aditya Renduchintala.
The name Helmet Head was given to me in 4th or 5th grade by Adi, because of my haircut.
I am now proud of that name, because helmets save lives, and I live another day, thanks to a helmet!

Animal Friendly Pree

Climb On Pree

Mexican Pree

 Bassist Pree

Travelling Pree