What shall I re-name myself?

[trytrytrying]

I'm getting divorced for the second time. I don't want to keep my stbexh's name. I also really don't feel connected to my original maiden name, I haven't used in in over 20years. I didn't have a great childhood and I don't feel like that person at all. What or how would you go about choosing a new surname? I thought about just dropping the surname and using my middle name. Should I just start this new happy chapter with a 'made up' name? Something from my ancestors? A book? It does seem a bit weird to rename myself but I don't chime with any of my surnames now. Any suggestions?

Are there any names that you just like the sound of? My favourite surname is Beauregard but that is quite fancy. Or choose a nice word like Silver or Rose.

Bob

You might get some inspiration from this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3306695-To-ask-you-for-your-favourite-surnames

Is there anyone in your extended family that you feel positive about whose surname you could use? Grandparents or aunts/uncles maybe? Or you could use a female ancestor's maiden name or someone's first name as a surname. If you don't have any relatives that fit the bill, is tgere a special friend, teacher or someone who has made a difference to your life you could get some inspiration from?You can go by any name you like, but personally I think I would like to use a name that was somehow connected to me.
Another thought is something connected to your job or hobby. That's how lots of traditional surnames started isn't it? Or something that signifies your new start in life - something like Strong maybe? You could always choose a word from another language. I'm no linguist but I wonder of there are any languages in which the word for, say, independent, future or new start sounds nice.
Hope you find something that resonates with you, and best of luck with everything.

Or the name of a place that is special to you.

@MrsAvocet Great ideas to get me started, thank you!

@TheThingWithFeathers thank you, I'll have a look.

As @TheThingWithFeathers suggested maybe a simple word that you feel positive about.

Or maybe after a special place?

I did this.

Took middle name as legal surname.

It’s not a traditional “surname” so can cause confusion, but it’s mine.

I'd pick something connected to me somehow.

• an animal you find meaningful (ie, Wolfe)
• an author that inspired you (e. g. Henley after William Henley, or Blake, etc. Obviously not a unique one like Shakespeare though !)
• a character in a story you liked as a role model
• the name of an ancestor, or of a place where your ancestor lived

In the country where I am now last names weren't really a thing until a century ago and people chose nature or filiation names, eg : "Blackwater", "Snow", "Truman", "Lightning", or "Jackson", "Harrison", etc.

Foreigners can't tell but as first names also often have a meaning, the overall names around here can be quite poetic !

Grandmother's maiden surname.

I was just about to say, why not look at the maiden names of the women in your family.

Balonz?

Place names as surnames are fairly common. What about after the place a place you really love?

If you love Milton Keynes that may not be great, but say you loved Whitby and lots of fond memories of it, that would be a good surname.

If I go back to my grandmothers and great grandmothers maiden names there are some really unusual ones.
Someone mentioned on another thread that National Archives are allowing free downloads, so maybe that might help you get further back than you already know? iyswim.
A favourite place is a good idea too.
Good luck with your search.

I’d search a map and find an obscure but beautiful place name.

I’ve opened maps and zoomed in at a random spot to show you what I mean.

Or take a walk around an old graveyard and choose a beautiful name.

Feather

I would go book character every time and specifically I would choose 'Brandon' , after Colonel Brandon in Sense and Sensibility as 'he is the best of men' and I'm still waiting for mine