Changing my own name?

You can use any name you want as long as it's not for a fraudulent purpose, which this isn't.

There's no such thing as legal names in the UK, only the name you are known by. You can use different names in different settings if you want.

It's not uncommon for women in particular to have a professional name that's different to the name they use personally.

Pick any name you like. Just make sure it's a name you'll be happy to keep professionally as your brand/network will be connected to that name.

I don't go in for snobbery about spellings. Language evolves. Pick a name you're happy with.

I think I know the name. As in Ozzie's daughter?
I don't think it's bad! I think it's quite cute actually

Sharren and Shar are not very nice. Unfortunately people judge on a name which is ridiculous as the person was given their name by their parent in most cases. If you want to change your name it is daft to pick something similar to the name you don't like and even more so when it's not an actual name!

My mother and father for reasons known only to themselves called me Susan and then shortened it to Sue. I can never remember answering to it. I think I hated it from the day I was born. They didn’t even have the imagination to make it Susanna which I quite like. I changed my name to something completely different as soon as I turned 18. I would do what makes you happy. Is there an older version of the name yours was derived from perhaps?

You could use your full name e.g. Sharon Louise Jones

Do you have a middle name you could use instead?

Are you sure people would be that judgmental? Can you tell us what the name is so we can advise? After the discussion you can always ask for the thread to be taken down if you don't want to be identified later.

I have a really good friend here in the USA who I had always known as Lauren (which over here at least has no negative connotations). It suits her as she is very elegant - and Lauren brings to mind Lauren Hutton, Lauren Bacall and Ralph Lauren over here. I met some of her extended family a few years ago and it turns out her birth name is Lori, which she hates. Most of her family now call her Lauren but those that don't see her very often still understandably call her Lori. It was so weird to think of her with a different name! So yes, everyone will adapt if you are determined you want to change it.

If people ask you why, just be honest and say it was holding you back in business because of people's perception. You could even call it your "business name". Whatever you feel comfortable with.

But I have been in the USA a long time and people are much more accepting and easygoing about things like this over here and don't think they have any right to interrogate you about it. I don't know if your customer base is removed enough from the rest of your life where you wouldn't be dealing sarcastic barbs if that is still a thing in the UK!

I don't know what I like @ChocolateCinderToffee . Other people seem to have names that roll off the tongue.
I like DCs names but those are their names.

I've often thought of changing my name since I've got a very dull one, but if I did it would be something completely different and unusual. If you don't like your name, why not change it to something you really like?

Is it an actual name? I wouldn’t do it if it was a nickname like your Shar example.

I was assuming your name is Tracy which is fine and probably better than a version of it.

I quite like Sandra, but it seems a bit like a 1940s baby name

Sharon is way better tha Sandra ,,

If you are considering this and want genuine input then just post the actual name. Otherwise you'll have a thread about Sharon which is not your name

@CurlewKate , It's probably Karen, Nicola, Lisa, Michelle or Joanne.
It doesn't really matter what the actual name is.

I don't like my name and always feel slightly embarrassed saying it.
It seems a bit lumpy and ugly. It's something like Jean Watson so just dull and unappealing (apologies to any Jean Watsons)

Just say what the name is. Nobody can have a view if you don't.

Sharon is way nicer than Sharren or Shar

Sharona?

I've done similar: my first name is a letter different to the one on my birth certificate - similar to Diana vs Deana, so not something that would be a natural nickname or said the same way in English. Some found it a bit odd, but I'd been discussing the change for years before it happened and it was important to me.

I know others who've done where it is the same name, though usually to a more common spelling or to make the pronunciation of it clearer. I wouldn't recommend making spelling or saying it more complicated.

I would just use an initial rather than the two suggestions you made.

Is there a family name you could adopt for work situations at least?

Unless it's a valid shortening/alternative of the name, I wouldn't. Everyone knows you as your name, it would be really odd.

If it is Tracey then I definitely prefer Tracey to Trace which is all I can think of
Patricia - prefer the full version to Patty, Patsy or Trish
Stacey - prefer Stacey to Stace
Michelle - prefer Michelle to Shell
Carol - can't think of an alternative
Donna - can't think of an alternative
Tiffany - prefer the full version to Tiff
Janine - Jan is okay?
Melanie - prefer the full version to Mel
Claire - can't think of an alternative
Alison - I like Ali
Julie - prefer Julie to Jules and Julia seems like too much of a change.

Those are the main names that scream 70s to me.

I don’t think Sharren or Shar are any better, really. Possibly worse. I appreciate that Sharon isn’t the real name, though.
I have known people change names which appear dated to another form of the same name, though - eg: Julie to Julia. Alison to Alice. Tracy to Theresa. Could you do that?

Why does CeCe spring up on so many threads? It's awful.

@Meraide , If your name is Sharon and everyone calls you Sharon or Shar, keep it. It's probably not Sharon, but Sharon is a nice name just a bit dated.

Don't spell it Sharron or Sharren.