In short: Could/should a name be given even before a thru-hike?
I ask because my SOBO is 2016. I choose not to give myself a name, I want it to be given. I was hiking with a couple of buddies and the topic of AT trail names came up. They decided to start calling me "twitch" because I suffer from chronic motor tic disorder. Around people, I dedicate energy and focus to not twitch, but at home and hiking my head and neck twitch.
They were not being malicious, but I got a kick out of the name.
That is why I decided to ask for opinions. Can I embrace "twitch" now, or would it be more special to wait for a name on the AT in 2016?