To change my name by deed pole?

[BallandBoe]

I want to change my name. It's not a massive change, but enough for my Mum to feel very upset.

Whilst I don't want to upset her, apart from my Mum, nobody has ever called me by my birth name for the last 20 years.

I want this to be a new start for me. My real name, for various reasons, brings back lots of childhood memories that I don't want to remember.

AIBU?

Has anyone changed their name by deed pole? Is it an easy enough process?

You can change your name by just starting g to use your new name. However, I found it helpful to have a deed poll (poll not pole) which cost peanuts off the internet. Get several certified copies to make life easier when informing the bank etc.

Thank you! I didn't check the auto-correct. Whoops!

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll

free - no need to pay!
usually no need to “enroll”

I think you need to do what feels best for you. Your name, and your life.
I have a relative who changed her name to her nickname (think "Deborah" to "Deb"). I don't know if she had bad feelings about her longer name, but she was always called Deb, nothing else, and she wanted to make it official.
Her parents were disappointed, because they really loved the name they gave her originally, and they felt that she could have kept the name Deborah, but still be called Deb, without permanently and officially changing it. But they got over it eventually, and as far as I know their relationship with their daughter is very good now.
I wish you good luck, whatever you decide to do!

It’s really easy to do. It’s all the changing details at your bank, on your passport, driving license etc that’s the most faff.

Would your Mum ever find out if you didn't tell her? I mean, sure it will be on all your official documents, but once I was an adult my Mum had no need to see them. Serious question.
Of course, the answer may be "she always books our holidays and so will need to know the name that's on my passport". In which case I guess the conversation DOES need to be had :/

But if not ... just quietly do the deed poll and don't tell anyone who doesn't need to know.

It’ll be different because of time and place, but I changed my surname and later my given name (which I’d never liked) by deed poll nearly 40 years ago in Australia. Very simple process, then, you just needed to have your birth certificate and whatever supporting docs were required and cough up the fee. My mother was a bit sorry, because she’d chosen my name, but she didn’t fuss about it. The main thing was getting everyone to remember the new name! 😁

I did a deed poll surname change. Was very easy.

Like others said, it is all the updates you then need to make. Passport, driving license, bank accounts, utilities, dr etc. That's more work and a faff but not insurmountable.

It's shockingly easy to use a deed poll to change your name. This is why convicted paedophiles are able to slink out of view and begin reoffending.

I never liked my first name either (or my surname), but stuck with it. For me, it had something to do with being brought up in a really problem family. I'm well past thinking about a change now. I'm gettting old and age comes giving less fucks about things.

But I do understand your desire to change it, and if I could have my time over I definitely would.

Dh deed poll was simple, we could have done it for free but paid about £300 including for all the letters/paperwork to be complete to inform companies of his change

Thank you everyone!