actually not for baby, for me, I'm changing my name, help me choose a new one pls

How many syllables in your surname? and where is the emphasis in it - will help to find a decent sounding first name if you have an idea how it will fit together. I understand you will not want to tell us your surname, but can you think of a similar sounding one to give as an example.
Do you have a middle name to keep or lose? Do you want a middle name?
Are there any old family names that you would like to use/have considered?

Hi

You said something jolly and my friends name (who is 31)is Jolie. It always makes me smile when i hear it
Good luck with your choice

Leah
Ruth
Lucy

Thinking of names of schoolfriends that I liked:

Sarah
Samantha - Sam
Josephine - Jo

My mum changed her name when I was about 7 (she was in her 30's then). She changed it because she too had a horrific first name. So one day she sat down with us and said it's either or and we helped her to pick. It was amazing how easy it was for her to change it and after a short while nobody batted an eyelid. (Her parents couldn't understand why she did it and still called her by her old name but they were the only ones!)
In terms of what name you should go for, haven't you always had a name in mind when you've fantasised about changing your name? Maybe you should ask the people who know you best what name would suit you and see if a trend appears?
Good luck
(by the way I've always liked Louise!)

Well, really simple, pretty, classic names that would never scream a particular decade, nor seem pretentious or common (tarnished)

Beth
Ellen
Rachel
Joy
Anna
Sarah
Susie
Kate

I like PollyGarner's idea of choosing Margaret, Elizabeth or Catherine because they have so many nns. But really, I don't think you can let a nn evolve when you are 38 and changing your name! I think, whatever you call yourself now, that has to be IT!

I like Beth, Ellen, Rachel, Susie the best from my list.

What is your old name?? You have to tell us!

hmm
Claire
Helen
louise
linda
lynne
Jan

My sister is Zoe, is 35 and there were 9 in her year at school (south London). In my experience Zoe definitely reeks of early 70s!

I always wanted to change my name to Laura! Not old at all! I know a 38 yo one, a 10 yo one and one who is coming up for a mont

I think Joanna is a lovely name.

Jenny is lovely, think if I changed my name I'd want to be something a bit more interesting though like Claudia or Camille.

Joanne
Genevieve (could still be Gen)
Gina
Nancy
Nina
Emma
Anna
Sarah

Good for you! What a tough decision though!

wow, good on you! I personally prefer Jan to Jen, although not so keen on Janet. What else is Jan short for? I suppose Janette/Jeanette or Janice.
I'm dying to know what your name is, can you give us a clue?

Fran
Ronnie
Jules
Jo

Helen
May
Jane
April
Fiona
Joy

Justine
Sarah
Jude
Charlotte
Charlie
George/Georgina

All the Jenny's I've met have been lovely, friendly and fun!

I'd go for Jenny.

All the ones I knew had perfect hair.

Not helpful I know...

I think you'd make a good Helen, or even Ellen.

Otherwise Elizabeth and its various diminutives is quite good.

If you can't have Kathy/Kate, what about Karen?

Sarah, Kate, Liz, Emma , Jo, Helen, Nicky, (all from our era - I am the same age as you). if you want to have a "normal" name these would fit in iyswim

What kind of a character are you? are you outgoing or shy, sporty or delicate.

more unusual names that I like (for 38 year olds) I quite like are

Zoe, Polly, Martha, Isabel, Josie, felicity, Anna, Olivia (uncommon in 38 yos imo),

Looking at a selection of names from the 70s (and avoiding ones that seemed too 70s!):

Jen, Susan, Sarah, Rachel, Beth, Carla, Kelly, Carmen, Ruth?

Ernest - get a change of name deed drawn up by a solicitor

i used to do it for £50 plus VAT

you can do it for free under legal help (legal aid ish) if you are on a low income

you will then LEGALLY be known as new name - all banks, passport stuff etc will be changed.

Laura is lovely, my katy was very nearly laura

Also your mouth makes a lovely shape saying names begining with L

Ernesta

How about a name with lots of choices in it like

Margaret: meg, marge, maggie, greta, madge

Elizabeth: libby, liz, eliza, beth, betty...

K/Catherine: Katy, Kate, Kathy, Kat, Cath...

Nice to have a formal and informal name for all occasions!

If I were you I'd change by deed poll or keep the same initial tbh.
(I speak from experience of changing my name by deed poll, although mine was my surname)
If not you will have problems with:
Cheques given by people who know you by new name only
You will only be able to register with Dr etc with old name as medical records etc will be in that name.
Anything you need proof of ID for will have to be in old name, such as joining library, getting anything delivered recorded delivery (you cant collect parcels taken back to depot without photo ID)
Travelling abroad - tickets/passports etc
Re-directing any mail

I'm sure there are loads more, but I'd say if you are going to do it then do it the whole hog!!

Whats your middle name? Could you use that?
Is there no name that you could get as a nickname from your current name?