Change first name in 30s

[Littlemouseinahouse]

Hi,

I have always hated my name (Ara) since I was young. Wanted to change my name so much. I hated how it’s so “foreign” and unknown. And not able to be shortened. But parents weren’t keen, and the hassle of changing everything. Now im in my 30s i want to take control- and decided it’s time.
the problem is im in my 30s now and everyone knows me as Ara and it’s so embarrassing.

my options could be:
lara/ Tara/Sara so it at least rhymes
or
Arya/Aria/Arla so it’s very similar to my name already and Ara is almost a nickname for Arya/Aria/Arla

I did this Arabella- but I just don’t look like an arabella…

anyone changed their name as an adult? And which name is better for it to stick… a rhyming name or a name that starts with the same sound?

thanks so much for your help.

Sorry typo
*I did think of using Arabella- but I don’t look like an arabella at all

Your name is pretty and unique 😊 I like it!

But if you feel you really would like to change it for your own sake , Aria is very nice and also very similar to your given name - which means it won't be too tricky for people to adjust to your new one

I changed my name (first and surname) in late 20s wasn’t too much faff.

i love the name Sara, don’t rush into it though, have a think on it and try calling youself your favourite names for a bit and see what you prefer

Love Tara, and very close to your current name, so easy to adapt to. You can also try introducing yourself with a new name to see how feels, before changing it.

I think about changing my name all the time. I don’t dislike my name it’s because it gets shortened by EVERYONE and I hate the shorter name so much that it’s got to a point where I try not to even say my name when I meet new people.

No one apart from parents call me the longer version and I get fed up of correcting people to use the longer one. I’m late 30’s and do wonder if it’s too late to change it and if people would think it’s strange if I did.

Sorry I'm going to be no help, but I love your name!

Ara is very pretty. If it was me and I was going to all the hassle of changing it I'd go for something completely different.

Do it! Life is too short to be stuck with a name that you hate and are embarrassed by. Please ignore the people that will claim that changing your name is selfish and mean to your parents.

I completely changed my name just before I graduated. It took a while for some people to get used to, but it is one of the best things that I ever did. Even my mother says that she prefers it to my original name... which she chose. I actually like introducing myself to people now.

Do you have a second name you could utilise? I know someone who went from one name to a similar one that was part of her middle name

I’ve often wondered why it isn’t more common to change our first names. I don’t hate mine but it is very popular so I wish it was more accepted for first names fo be changed, I’d change a letter or two to make it slightly more unusual. So I say go for it.

I changed mine and dd's surname

I thought about changing my first name, and her first name, but decided against it - I quite like our names now

I would do it, op, as its something you've always wanted, but I'd be sure that it was the one, before doing it xx

I have changed my name from Hanna to Anna in my 30s, long story why, and very happy.

My Nan was called Ariadna, everyone shortened it to Ada, except grandad, he called her Ara. I have always thought it was very sassy.