aibu to want to change my name

[Shocked33]

I really want to change my name, mainly for work purposes.
I'm in a new industry and I've always wanted to change my name. I feel it would sound more professional and suit me more.

Its not a huge name change
I'm named a shortened version of a longer name, which I prefer.

Along the lines of:

Mandy but I prefer Amanda
Or
Kate but I prefer Katherine

My husband thinks I'm crazy
I might add I'm current sleep deprived but I've thought about it for a long time!

AIBU

I had a friend who did this, slightly different more sophisticated version of her original name - think Susanna instead of Susan - went fine, doubt anyone even consciously remembers now that she did it - it was years ago.
So I'd say do it!

At work you can ask them to call you whatever you want, so if it's primarily a work thing, then you don't really need to go through the faff of changing your name by deed poll or anything like that. Just ask them to make that your email address and put it on your email signature and introduce yourself to people accordingly.

If you really want to change your name officially there's no reason why you shouldn't or couldn't, but it will be a lot of admin of course. I also think people like your husband and family are unlikely to get used to calling you by a different name very soon.

I would also add that even if you lengthen your name, you may find that people end up calling you the shortened version anyway. I have a name that's easily shortened. Even if I'm introduced by my full name and even though it's on all my social media profiles and my profiles and email at work, everyone invariably ends up calling me by the short version. Fortunately I don't actually mind, but if I did I would spend an awful lot of time correcting people. My full name isn't even long, either - two syllables, so it's not like it's a mouthful!

But ultimately it's your name and it's entirely your decision; names are important to identity and if you feel it's absolutely the right thing for you, there's no reason you can't change it.

Thank you for the responses, I agree re identity

I don't think I'd tell my parents etc and I think they would be unlikely to find out.

I don't really know how I'd broach it at work

Just put the longer name on your signature and it'll eventually stick.

Do the people at work even know that the longer version isn't your 'real' name?

If it's just a longer version of the name you go by, you can just say I've decided I like (longer version) better and I'd like to be called it now. Sign off with it. Correct people. Just keep persistently using it.

So my social media for work I could change, my email address Is the shortened version.

I suppose only hr would know