Names carry meaning. They reflect who we are, where we come from, and how the world recognizes us. For most people, a name remains constant throughout life. For me, however, a small difference in spelling became an unexpected turning point—one that I chose not to correct, but to embrace.
My official name, as written in my academic certificates and birth registration, is S. M. Maniruzzaman. This is the name I grew up with, the name that appears across my educational records, and the one that defines my early identity.
However, when my National Identity Card (NID) was created, a mistake occurred. The spelling of my name was recorded as S. M. Maniruzzman—missing a single letter, yet creating a noticeable difference.
At first glance, it may seem like a minor error. And in many cases, such mistakes are corrected immediately. But I made a different decision.
Instead of going through the lengthy and often complicated process of correction, I chose to accept this version of my name. Not out of negligence, but with intention.
Over time, I began to see this “mistake” from a different perspective.
In a world where digital identity matters more than ever, uniqueness has value. The spelling “Maniruzzman” is rare, distinctive, and easier to stand out in search results. What began as an unintended error gradually revealed itself as an opportunity—an identity that is easier to find, remember, and differentiate.
So I made a conscious choice:
I would not treat this as a problem to fix, but as a variation to own.
Today, both spellings represent the same person:
S. M. Maniruzzaman — my original, formal name
S. M. Maniruzzman — my adopted, distinctive identity
This is not a story of confusion, but of clarity.
Not a mistake left unresolved, but a decision made with purpose.
Because sometimes, what starts as an error can become something more—
a mark of individuality, a practical advantage, and ultimately, a part of one’s identity.
Both names refer to the same person.