To consider changing my surname by deed poll?

[Georgemendez]

My first name is 3 syllables and my surname is 4, it's a European surname. Obviously not going to say what the surname is not which country it's from as it's irrelevant, so please don't ask me or try and guess.

The reason I'm considering changing it is because I'm sick of comments from other people. I have zero issue with people asking where it's from, asking how to pronounce it, that's normal curiosity.

Some people say it's nice,which is lovely. However some people will just say, "Oh well that's definitely a name from X country.

The thing is, I'm white British. In my department we have colleagues of various ethnicities who also have 'foreign' names. I can guarantee people would not dream of saying 'Oh that's definitely a Chinese/Nigerian/Sri Lanka surname'.

The other day, I was speaking to another colleague I didn't know. Someone I know walked over and said to him, "Her name is , I've been practicing.'

A friend told me my name was a mouthful. I used to work in teaching and had at least 4 staff members ask me "So do the kids really call you Miss ?!"
A child asked a member of staff for me and this teacher said "Is that her name?!"

I'm possibly being too sensitive, but it's embarrassing me. I like my first name, and I admit my first and surname are quite long together, however I commonly go by a diminutive of my first name.

I'm very tempted to change it, but I fear it would look strange to just randomly start going by a new surname, it would be better if I were starting a new job .

Has anyone ever dealt with this? I'm sick of people thinking they have to comment on everything.

I'd just change my surname to a shorter version of my current one.
I've also had a male recruitment consultant repeat my full name down the phone to me in shock and then laugh. I need to start being more assertive and pull people up.

I changed mine when I was 25. I had been thinking about it, but did it on impulse one lunchtime and didn't think it was actually done and dusted in my lunch hour 😂.
I just went back to work and told my boss I had a new name now. Nobody batted an eyelid, and took to it straight away. I felt empowered to be honest. And I didn't care what anyone thought. It's just a name tbh. I just fancied a better one!

That's amazing you could just do it in your lunch hour!
What made you change it just out of interest?
It's good you feel better now.

I am sick of hearing 'Oh that's definitely a (insert country) surname. I feel like saying to them, "Yes, well my father is from that country. People from that country having a surname from that country, who'd have thought?'

Partly family reasons, don't know why I should have been named after my useless father and I just never really liked it.

What else about yourself would you change because people sometimes commented about it? Is there anything you would keep?

I already got braces because even a 'friend' told me 'You'd be so pretty if only you fixed your teeth?'
I had a nose job because I had 2 exes tell me I had a big nose.
Yes I'd keep a lot of things, but the above examples show that people can be very shallow. I am all for loving yourself, but the above examples were getting me down, and fixing them has improved my confidence.

If it bothers you, do it. My friend had a boob job (for comparison). I'd never do anything as drastic as that, but that made her feel better 😉. Or just tell them all to frig off.

Why not? My dad changed his name by deed poll years ago. Wasn't until I needed my birth certificate as an adult that I realised my name at birth was different. In fact my siblings have different names, depending on when they were born. He did for just the same reason as you are saying. He chose a name that sounded similar to the original but definitely British.

Also, there's a difference between saying (for example) , is that a French surname? Than laughing at it and exclaiming, 'Oh my that's definitely a French surname '

I just worry I'd upset my parents. My Mum's British but took on my Dad's name, though her first name is very short which probably helps.
And I wonder if people would still call me by my old name and find it weird.

See, I would just say "no, it's swiss actually". Rude buggers. I have a European first name. But I've had no negative comments. My mum did though when I was born/little. People are just so unaware/ignorant/rude.

They really are rude. What's odd is that two of the people who've recently said it have a 'foreign' name themselves and weren't born here. Not that it matters, honestly I feel embarrassed about my name every single day.

Well then just say "hark at you, you can't say anything with a name like that" and laugh back. It is all a name, and it's weird they get so hung up about it. But above all, just be glad you're you. And not them. I bet they pick fault with anything.

I love hearing where names originate, but would never be so rude as to think it my place to state my thoughts on the matter to an owner of a name. People really do need to keep their thoughts to themselves!

keep your surname and tell everyone to fuck off and stop being so pig ignorant. Ive had it with my first name all my life. "can i call you something else for short?" etc. I hated it as a kid but now im an adult i realise they are the problem, not me. Think of a few cutting responses to the questions and pull them out when people make ridiculous comments etc. :-)

Is it Polish by any chance? (I have a Polish surname).

I get it bothers you, and if you really want to change it then you should.

But really, your name isn't the problem, it seems the problem is that you're surrounded by wankers.

Do you laugh along to be polite when they're all 'ooh, what a funny name you have, however do you cope?!'

If you do, I'd recommend not being polite and just look at them, as expressionlessly as you can for a beat and then say really evenly, no hint of humour, maybe a bit puzzled 'what do you mean?' or 'yes, that's right, is something funny?' or 'I don't get it, can you explain' (or 'thanks Nigel, but I do know my own name and I'm quite capable of introducing myself') what you want is them to be seriously uncomfortable when they realise they're going to have to say 'forrin names are funny, cos I'm a bit thick, and possibly xenophobic'

You sound overly sensitive. Most people wouldn't go that far. You worry far too much about what people say or think and the desire to change your name is another part of that.

Change your name to your car registration. You will be the only person in the UK to have 100% accurate private plates.