Oh wow, that seems awful to go through. I think I’ve been quite lucky on the name front then. For me, now, it’s the opposite, as in primary and secondary school all the kids were really receptive to it. They’d question it at first but after that it was fine, maybe comments were made behind my back but other than that I had no issues. Kind of proves the idea that kids are taught hatred and micro aggressions, but at the same time I did grow up in Devon and there weren’t many POC in my school. I’m sure it would be different for someone who wasn’t white. Though my Year 7&8 art teacher did refuse to say my name right as she apparently had “too many names and pronunciations to remember.”
I’m starting to get more odd reactions now about my name, and similar to your experience they have acted in slight disbelief. But that’s the English for you, lol. I think they’ll see a white person and assume they’re English too, and then be thrown off when they have a different name and/or accent.
That’s awful! Polish people have been really mistreated in the UK and it’s not spoken about enough. My best friend is part Polish and we were talking the other day about how sad it is that both Polish and Irish names (as well as many others) have been anglicised. Her surname has been shortened down to only five letters just so it’s easier for people to understand.
Ergh I can’t stand Americans lol. What did you say?