A sign-name is created by using the manual alphabet handshape for the first letter of a person’s name and creating movement with that signed letter. Sometimes the movement is based on some identifying feature of the person. For example, I knew a man who had a prominant grey streak in his hair. The sign for his name incorporated the signed letter "S" (for "Shawn") and a sweeping motion was made with the "S" shape at the side of his hair (imagine a combing motion). It is not necessary to always make a sign-name associated with personal traits, but it can help you remember what the person’s sign name is.
My own mother, who is Deaf, created my name using the "A" hand-shape (Andrea) and moving it from left to right. She explained that her reason for choosing an "A" name was because as a newborn, my hands were always in a fisted "A" shape. My sister also received an "A" name (Alissa) for the same reason. Little did my mother know that all newborns’ hands are held in a fisted position until they are about 4 months old. I guess if she went on to have other children there would have been a lot of "A" names!
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