WIBU to change my name?

[Changinmyname]

Name change () as I think this could be a sensitive subject.

I want to change my name but I need your thoughts.

I've always disliked my name because I have a horrific past with it - It's the name I heard before I was abused as a young girl, my mother just 'chose a name' without any thought into it, I feel nauseous whenever people say my name etc.

I have a lovely name in mind and I honestly just feel like myself whenever I think of myself with it. It has a lovely connection to my family history, and the meaning behind it is so special to me

But i'm in my early forties and i've known my birth name for so long. It's weird to me. I feel as if I am a different person and i've held onto my birth name for so long that I would seem strange without it.
I'm not sure how people will react.

Please share your thoughts on this as i'm not sure if it will be the right decision.

@RunningFromInsanity

Honestly, unless you explain all that reasoning behind it, people will think it’s weird. It’s likely people will still call you your original name and refer to you as it.

But if you don’t care about that then go for it! It’s your decision at the end of the day.

I disagree. I changed my first name (started going by my middle name, however the majority of people in my life didn’t know it was my middle name).

No one batted an eyelid - my close ones were surprised I didn’t do it sooner as they knew I didn’t like my old first name. It was one of those weird/unique names to begin with though.