Help me with ideas.... Thinking about changing my first name!

[LukeSkywalkerBoots]

I’ve been thinking of doing this. I’ve never particularly liked my name and since I’ve ditched my birth family following abuse when I was a child I feel like I’d like to also change my name having moved on with my life.

A few thoughts though- if my current name is in my dc birth certificates/ my marriage certificates/ various wills made by other people then how does it work if I change it- am I no longer identified in the above?!

Will people think I’m wanky for changing my name?

What should I change it to? I’m a 40 year old who likes funky trainers and yoga if that helps!

Change it! You can do it free, don't pay.

Look at baby name lists for ideas. Nice and normal? Wacky, hippyish? Foreign? Religious? A combination of all of these?

I always fancied changing my name to Antonia Frazer, but obviously Antonia Frazer already has it! I like the way it sounds and it seems like a respected name, classic and balances well with her surname.

I changed my name as an adult. It was a great decision and I've never regretted it. With id - you send your proof that you've changed your name to DVLA, passport people etc and get it changed on those. With other things I've not bothered and just hand over the original document with my old name on it and my statutory declaration together. Never had an issue. Go for it!

Thank you! I’m feeling v motivated! How did you find it changing it with utilities etc? Did you have to send proof for that too?

Do it!
I actually used a deed poll service. Cost about £30 and it made it easier for changing passport, utilities, banks - all straightforward.

Doesn't matter about your children's birth certifcates, how you're named in wills.

Will people think you're wanky? 😀 Possibly but most will accept it (many will envy you) and you'll be surprised how quickly they adapt to your new name.

I think you should go for something classic like Madeleine which you can shorten if you care to.

It's really easy and free op via this link. I felt different as soon as I'd completed the document. You then need to ask witnesses to sign and take it to your bank etc

People treat me differently with my new name too and everyone tells me it's really nice where as my old name never received any comments and I really hated it.

I did it over a year ago and have no regrets.

freedeedpoll.org.uk

Do you have a shortlist?

Are you going to change you first name and surname? Will you have a middle name too?

What’s your name now?

I always think that posh sounding names like Allegra and Sasha and Cecilia sound very glamorous and grown up

I won’t say my current name as it’s outing but let’s just say it gets shortened to something that I don’t like!

I love the name Maya, what do you think? I’m trying to think of other ideas- suggestions welcome!

I’ll keep my married surname and just ditch my given first and middle name.

Can you give a flavour of the name you're moving away from?

Zoe, Sienna, Naomi, Iris?

Would you want to keep the same initials or a similar sound? I have a friend who changed hers in her 50s as her first name had connotations with a murderer. She saw a name on tv that sounded similar but was much younger and she really liked it. I found it hard at first but I've got used to it. If I'm honest I always think of her by her original name and then change it. Much like how you translate language in your head. She is really happy she changed it.

I never thought it was wanky.

If you like Maya, how about Mara, Carla, Lois, Ella? I'Ve just spent a few minutes contemplating what is like to be called and I've gone with either Mairi or Lorna.

What else do you like OP ?
Laura
Rose
Ava
Stella
Emma

My name is Natasha. Urgh.

Not bothered about keeping same initial.

I like Sienna! Doesn’t go with my surname v well tho. Quite like Ella too.

Rose is nice!

Sasha
Nuala
Laurel
Anna

It’s no help but I love the name Natasha!

(And definitely not unusual enough to be outing!)

Wow - really exciting!

Maybe go for a shortening you love and work backwards? I adore Tess, Theresa is nice: love jess, like jessica.

If you like Maya then that's what you should go for.

If you like Maya choose Maya. How do you pronounce it? May a or My a?

I always thought the name Natasha sounds very grown up and a bit sexy and edgy!

Just out of interest is it Nat or Tash you don't like ? That might help with suggestions

No help but Natasha is a lovely name! Though I don’t like it shortened.

If you do change it I think you should go for something completely different, if your new name sounds too similar to your current name it will just confuse people and you will still get called Natasha so something like Sasha as a pp suggested would not work.

I hate both nat and tash! Natasha does somewhat conjure up the idea of a sexy Russian Bond girl but I am def not that and people always suppose I want it shortened.

Maya is pronounced My-a.

My thinking 're Sasha was presuming that it was Nat that the OP didn't like. Sasha is close enough that she could use it without a name change. So it really depends on how drastic a name change OP was looking for so it's about offering a range of options.