Name for an adult

[Lucasboo]

For personal reasons I’ve decided to go for it and change my name as an adult. This will not cause any family issues so I’m free to do what I like. I’m also at an age where nobody questions changes of surname so that’s going too. I am however finding it hard to pick a final one. I did change my first name when I was 18 then found out lots of people pronounced it wrongly and it sounded dreadful.

Im looking for something that goes with the surname James. Top of my list so far are

Xanthe (had lots of positives for this one)

Ianthe (I like the pronunciation eye-anthe but know it should be ee-anthe and have found people look at it and read it as Ian!)

Fleur - name my mum had really liked but family pressure against at the time

Elodie - I love this but don’t know if too fluffy and young for a 45 year old but old name in France

Sian - Welsh connections

Any other age appropriate suggestions before I commit?

I love Eloise sadly can’t use it as close family name

Although I think Fleur is a lovely name, I don’t think it flows well with James. Elodie James sounds really nice.

I quite like names starting with the same letter or sound - Jessica James, Genevieve James etc.

Xanthe James is gorgeous!

I also love Elodie and Sylvie. Fleur isn't my personal favourite but I love the significance of it for you so definitely go for it if that's what you want.

If you're going to change your name, make the most of the opportunity, don't waste it.

Sian has always been a favourite name of mine too but I think its a little plain on its own with James. Will you be changing or adding a middle name too?

Because I think Xanthe Sian James is great!

I love Elodie. One of my favourite names. Goes lovely with James too.

Fflur is the welsh for fleur if you wanted to combine welsh and fleur.

I don’t like the xanthe Ianthe names I’m sorry.

Elodie is my winner!

Most of the names on your first list have variable/questionable pronunciations in UK, and as you’ve already found this a problem in the past, steer clear of Xanthe Ianthe Élodie.

I’m not a fan of Sian, and it doesn’t go especially well with James, because of its hard consonant ending.

Some names I think would work with James are Corinna, Allegra, Hester, Melinda or Melissa.
Also I think Fleur and Sylvie are lovely and would go well with James.

xanthe and Elodie are a bit fluffy IMO
Sian is ok but meh. fleur I find quite ugly.

I like Ianthe a lot and would say it Eye-an-thee but if you’re worried about it, there is Ione and Ismene (Eye-oh-nee, Is-may-nee or Is-mee-nee). Leonie, Verity, Circe are also nice. Ffion is a lovely Welsh name.

Fleur James sounds lovely and it would be my top choice giving the history behind it as well - as long as you and your mum get along, of course!

I came very close to changing my name in my late teens.
Just go with what feels right for you.
If it was me, I would probably go with a name that fits my era.
I was born in the late 1970s, so something like Emma, Lisa, Claire etc that was popular when I was born.
That's just something I would do personally though.
Just run through the names you like and picture yourself being called that - by friends greeting you/ in the doctors waiting room etc etc.

I vote Elodie. DH votes Fleur (which I agree is lovely!)

I vote Fluer. Its the name you should have had by rights so assuming you're close to your Mom /, your memory of her, I think it would be lovely and fitting and fits in with your age