Would you ever (or just want to) change your name?

[shhquietplease]

I would love to, but then I don’t think everyone in my life would call me my new name - either because they didn’t want to or because it’s hard to know someone for decades and refer to them as something entirely different.

I always hated my birth name, all through childhood. But no one in my family would address me as anything else (no nicknames, ever) until I changed it by deed pole.

I did it at 18, and at work was known by a nickname; so it wad pretty easy to slide into the new identity. I'm in my 30s now and regret nothing.

I’ve had several names.

(These aren’t my actual names but examples.) My birth name was Elizabeth Taylor.

My mum and everyone called me Betty till I was about 10, then she decided it’d be more sophisticated (!!) for me to be called Liz. So she started calling me Liz and I called myself Liz when I started a new school.

Then I got married and was Liz Smith. Then I divorced but was still Liz Smith. Then I married again but stayed Liz Smith. Then I turned 50 and got a deed poll to become Liz Taylor again. I love this name.

it’s easier to launch a new name onto the world if you’re starting somewhere new (like a new job). Plus you can launch it on Facebook and all your social media. Some people will always call you by your original name, but loads won’t.

change your name. There’s no bigger thrill than seeing your name - your ideal, preferred name - written down.

I used to want to . . . my name has a shortened version which I absolutely hate. Also it had been popular about 30 years before I was born and was no longer in common use by the time I was given the name so it always seemed a bit dated to me (think what it would be like to be called Margaret or Valerie when the rest of the girls in your class are called Emma, Claire or Rebecca)

But my parents died a few years ago and I have now accepted that they chose it because they loved this name and actually there's nothing very wrong with it

Now that I'm retired and not having to deal with colleagues who shortened my name, it's no longer a problem

I'm hoping that at some point in the next few years it may be popular again!

I did, twice - first my surname (change it to my mother's), then my given name (always hated the original). That was forty years ago. Didn't take people too long to get used to it and I didn't have anyone being an arse about it. Mum was a bit sad because she'd looked carefully for a name when I was born, but she said it was my name, so my choice.

I changed my first name a few years ago. I'd always hated my name, but hadn't really considered changing it an option until I met a new friend who'd changed her name. I now introduce myself with my new name, but my mum and her friends still call me by my old name. She says she chose my name and she likes it, so why would I change it.

Gawd, because she likes your name you shouldn't change it? Whose name is it anyway?

I'm quite like my name but if I didn't, I would absolutely change it

I’ve used my middle name since I left home and went to university. My first name was massively popular, and very obviously dating. It was a bit strange at first but now hardly anyone calls me by my first name. I don’t regret it at all.

I wouldn't change my first name, but I've often thought about giving myself a middle name (since my parents didn't) and changing my surname. Before I married I had a surname that was easily mocked, so I took my husband's name on marriage which is OK but not very exciting. I'd like to have an interesting, elegant sort of surname.

However, the sheer hassle of the process means I won't do it; can't face having to contact dozens of places and then have them get it wrong, or ask for multiple documents as proof and all that kind of stuff. Plus husband, though he wouldn't stop me, might be a bit miffed about it.

I did a free deed poll.

I'd been using a diminutive of my name for decades so I had my bank account and degree certificate in that name but my passport was the long version.

It just made everything match.

@PracticallyYesterday

I did the deed (I didn't even bother to have it enrolled) at the time my passport was due for renewal. Once I had the passport it was fairly straight forward.

Not my first name but I'd like to change my surname. I have my dad's surname but I'm NC with him, and my mum remarried so I don't want her new surname either.

Just the idea of having to get a new passport is putting me off as it's not due for renewal for a few years!