Wanting to change my name

[Justlivelovelaugheat]

I am one of 10 kids. My mom had her first at 16 and if you can imagine she wasn’t very mature. We ended up being called ridiculous names in my opinion and it goes as far as the first 5 letters of all our names had to be the same so they all sound very similar. I think this was testament to my mom’s ego.

I hated my name growing up. It’s extremely long, hard to pronounce, I was laughed at in school, and used to dread my name being butchered in the register. I still don’t understand why parents give their kids such a hard time with their first name in the honour of being “unique”. My kids are called Mia and Henry just so they don’t have to go through what I did. Most people didn’t even say my name growing up because they couldn’t and I always felt like I wasn’t an individual because of how many siblings I had with the same ridiculous part of their names too. For example; our names are like grapely grapemia grapesia grapefire if that makes sense (not actually grape of course but equally as ridiculous.)

Long story short, as an adult I have shortened my name. I have a degree but I now want to change careers and I think I am more likely to get a decent job with a normal name as i know first hand that even though companies shouldn’t discriminate, they will. I’d have to change all my documents (passport etc.) does this seem like too much? Should I just leave it?

Change it, you only live once and your name is such an integral part of who you are

That intrigues me too. I reckon they all start with
Chris ...
@Justlivelovelaugheat - definitely sort the paperwork to have the name you prefer. I have an annoying name and I have wrestled with it all my life.

I wish I could say as somehow it’s far more creative than that.

I don't think Op's mum found 10 names she made 10 names up using the same 5 letters to start them all. Bonkers! Definitely change your name op. Robin Nicole would be lovely.

Do it!

Yes sorry I didn’t make that bit clear. That’s why they’re so hard to pronounce because they’re absolutely mad. Some are a bit better definitely not mine.

I changed my name via Deed Poll. Best £50 I ever spent, not sure how much now. You can do it yourself.
www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll

No need to spend £50 and have it enrolled at all though.

Just follow the free link if in doubt.

My guess was Charl-
Charlotte
Charlene
Charlemagne

But anyway... go for it op, definitely change it informally, and formally too if you wanted but personally I couldn't be bothered with that.

I have people I'm close to that have forgotten my nickname is not my real name. My dh's gran a few years back gave me a birthday cheque but I struggled to cash it into my account because she wrote it to my nickname!

I literally go months without hearing my real name these days, which I'm pleased about.

How do you siblings feel about their names? Have any of them continued the tradition with their own children?

I know someone who is one of five and the parents have done something similar to yours

Along the lines of Tito, Titam, Tishan, Tiwana and Steven.

I’ve spent far too much time wondering why Steven was called Steven - does he feels left out or special. It’s never come up and I can’t bring it up but I am curious. Only if one of the siblings with a Ti name has continued the tradition with their own child.

I know three sisters whose names all start the same (beginning with J) one sister named her kids j names. Another did A names and the third L names .

Can you do a variation of your name? Like Elizabeth- Beth

Changing it is valid too.

My mum changed her first name recently, she had always hated hers and so thought 'F it'.

She just picked a name she had always liked and went with it. She is much happier now!

I think you should go for it.

Go for it!! My DD15 wanted to change her surname to mine (her dad is an asshole) and I had to go to court to do it....point is if you feel that strongly you should, this is you life long identity.

Deedpoll is easy and not expensive.

Sorry to derail, I always thought the feminine spelling was Robyn is that not the case?

Statutory declaration is free and faster than deed poll, plus just as effective.

I changed my given names over a decade ago, after being known by my "chosen" name unofficially for many years before that. .

It wasn't very difficult or very much effort with the paperwork - Stat Dec, use that to change your passport and driving licence, then use those to change all bank accounts and other official docs. Really very little hassle, honest!

Definitely change it!
Am I the only one desperate to know the actual names? Obviously wouldn't expect the OP to divulge them but I would love to know!
My guess for what its worth is Kay...
Kay-den
Kay-len
Kay-Lynn
Kay-Anne
Kay-May

Ah, I didn't read the thread properly...First five letters are the same!

I changed my first name when I got married as well as my surname. I always hated my full name, so I changed it to a shortening (think Susanna to Anna or similar).

It's a super easy process. If you google "free deed poll" there's a website that gives you the text to copy and paste, then you get two people to sign as witnesses. No cost and no paperwork really.

Even changing the documents isn't that much hassle. I changed my name on my bank account, which gave me the evidence to change my passport. After that, everything was simple. You can find lists online of the important things to change, and then I just changed other things as and when I noticed them.

Do it. I changed my name years and years ago, definitely worth it.
I did it legally with a Statutory Declaration of Change of Name, it was countersigned by a solicitor witness. I found it useful to have a document to show them for times when I had to produce my birth certificate (which was obviously in my former name).

Everything is in my new name - passport, driving licence etc and has been for years. Having a form makes everything easier when you want to get things changed at the GP or the bank.
If you are going for new jobs, remember things like exam certificates etc., if you can produce a legal change of name document it explains why your GCSEs are in another name rather than the one you are using to apply for the job. Some job applications go into detail about names, I always put "NEW NAME, formerly OLD NAME, nee MAIDEN SURNAME" depending on how much detail they want. Any job which requires an enhanced DBS will want such details.

It has always been worth it, I never identify with the name I had as a child and have never regretted the change.

I sympathise I was given a name I hate. Never changed it due to being so indecisive about what to actually call myself!!

Do it.

My mum's name and middle name were awful (two old lady names I pray never come back into fashion!). She was known by her middle name which was the worst of the two.

When she joined up in WW2 someone asked her name and she just blurted out the first thing that came into her head and was known as that by everyone for the rest of her life. She never changed it officially though.

Definitely change it.

I'm so curious about the ten names all starting with the same five letters!

I'd guess they all begin Danni

Danniblue
Dannileigh
Dannielle
Danniella
Dannibella
Dannisam
Dannitoby
Dannifrey
Dannilanda
Dannidix

Nope. Robin has two roots. The first is as a diminutive of Robert or Roberta. The second is as a nature name taken from the bird.

The 'y' was just a trendy substitution. It's not necessary at all.

Thank you, I've only ever seen it spelled I for male & Y for female so didn't realise 🙂

I've got a dreadful name and I'd change it if I had the energy to do so. I'm at an age where it would just be too bothersome.

Do what you feel like doing and enjoy your new name.

I had a friend called Nicole. Her father was French