Teenager wants to change their name

[Stressedgiraffe]

I don't know what to do. I've said if they still want to do it at 18 they can. My major worry is that what they want to change it to isn't a name it's a noun. I don't want to say the name but think 'table' ' truck' 'monitor'
I worry that they won't be taken seriously when they get a job/career.
They don't want it to stay as a nickname but as their proper name.
What would you do?

I like Truck
Hard no to bike
I'd just say no, for all the practical reasons you are worried about.

It would be very easy to revert back to birth name if they change their mind. It costs £40 to do a deed poll so don’t worry. Let them make their own mistakes.

I bet he still applied for jobs as Mark then said my name is Chisel on he'd got the job. That's my worry as they want to be 'train' at interview stage

You can actually change your name by an unenrolled deed poll from the age of sixteen. So I don't think you're going to get much choice in the matter.

Nope, I was in HR, it was on his CV. I think people maybe thought it was a non-English name of some kind. It was at a work Xmas do that I found out that his name wasn't actually Chisel originally😆and that he was from the midlands and not somewhere in Europe.

In fairness, some employers care less about this sort of thing than others - my old workplace wanted him for his quite specific skills and experience.

If it's Scooter they'll probably get away with it. Bus? Bike? Hard no.

What sex is your teen?

He needs 2 witnesses over 18 and to pay for the change. I’d say absolutely not until he’s 18.

I quite like Coach.

I was very disappointed when I discovered that my friend Lorry was actually Laurie. We were five.

Part of my job involves hiring and we would never make a decision to not interview or hire based on name because A) It could well be a non-English national B) if it's not, I'd assume the child had wacky parents rather than that they'd chosen the name themselves and why should that hold them back.

Even if I did know they'd chosen the name themselves it probably wouldn't affect my decision. We hire based on skills, qualifications and interview performance. Name doesn't come into it.

That's not saying you should or shouldn't let them change it but I really don't think it will affect their employment prospects like you think it will.

I went to school with a kid called Milky (after the Milky bar kid, because he was blond and wore glasses). Didn't find out what his actual name was until we were about 16.

Kids, teachers, his parents, everyone called him Milky. People still do. He never had it changed 😅

Random noun names have been very trendy with young people for a few years. My (at the time non-binary) niece and all her friends did it. All stuck to it for different lengths of time, I think only one persists - named for an item of clothing.

I'd let her do it, she can always change it back and it'll just be a lightly embarrassing 'wasnt I daft' anecdote in the future. Nobody is judging a teen on their name.

I'm at a loss here, you've used this name for three years but now you don't like the idea of what's to come.

I do think you're right that Scrambler Jones will be a hard sell to get an interview.

Looks like your just going to have to live with your (in)actions I'm afraid.

I think most employers would assume his parents were batshit rather than refusing to consider him because of his name.

Of course that is also annoying for you.

Rock, paper, scissors?

God preserve us from emotional 16 year olds!
They may grow out of it, they may choose to change it formally via deed poll once they turn 18.
It may be pathetic, but you may just have to humour them until they grow wake up

Absolutely not. There is a reason why a 16 year old can't vote or get married.

It’s 100% ok on CV, At work, to use a nickname

DC can wait to see if it’s 100% necessary

There are many many people in UK, that have official names in another “language” on all documents that use “English” name in everyday life.

DC can wait & prob doesn’t need official change.

You can't control when they change their name after 16. They don't need your permission.

My Dsis changed her name to Duchess Muffiepants. Couldn't get a mortgage so had to change it again. My DD16 changed her name (not officially) to a strange gender fluid name at 13. It took me some time to get used to it and caused some angst from members of my family but it makes her happy. It has no impact on me but it makes her feel good. She's planning on changing it by Deed Poll. It's her name.

Does it really matter if they make a mistake and learn from it?

An item of clothing?
Sock? Skirt? Pullover? Frock? Jeans? Cardigan (nickname, cardi), coat, coatigan? Jacket, shacket, leggings, jeggings?
Shoe boot slipper?
Not pants; no. Surely not. Vest?
Please tell us, I'm having more trouble with this than with lorry/truck/coach! 😂

I am assuming that because school and doctors are involved and that you are calling them they/them in your posts, then this also has something to do with magical gender woo, and so of course HAS to be taken seriously. 🙄

I'd not be pussy footing around and playing along with their 'demanding' you use the nickname. If you call them by their real name then so what? I'd also let them change it officially if they wanted but point out that they are coming across as a bit of a self entitled dick and lots of people will be internally rolling their eyes and laughing at them.

Except where they can

I dunno... Pants McGee has a ring to it!

They can shoot someone if they join up

My name is a noun, also transport related which is quite an amusing coincidence. It is also a name though which softens it somewhat.
Never been an issue.