Changing my own name?

[Meraide]

Ladies who are thinking about baby names, please help me!

My name is awful. Typical 1970s (I was actually born in the mid 80s so I’m not as old as it makes me seem). It’s very trashy and makes me sound common. Think along the lines of Sharon.

Is it weird if I change it? Not massively, but maybe changing Sharon to Sharren or Shar.

I’m starting a little business and approached a branding agency for a name and logo, paid quite a bit for a website, paid for decent photos of me, all looks very nice except it says “Sharon Jones, Founder” at the top and it just sounds shit and creates the wrong impression. Probably ridiculous but I was thinking Sharren Jones or Shar Jones might sound better.

It won't. Don't misspell your name.

I know someone who changed his name to a different version of his birth certificate name and it worked out really well for him.

I wouldn't. When they meet you, you'll still be Sharon just spelt incorrectly. Just list your name on the website as Ms S Jones if you don't like it saying Sharon.

Why don't you just start calling yourself Shar just like Peter is Pete and Alexander / Alexandra are Alex?

Becoming Sharren is still Sharon but then you also have to draw attention to the fact you are called Sharren by spelling it out.

Agree with these suggestions. Go by initial or adopt a nickname rather than a new fangled spelling.

Is it Tracy? I know one who goes by CeCe which is quite nice.

Why does CeCe spring up on so many threads? It's awful.

@Meraide , If your name is Sharon and everyone calls you Sharon or Shar, keep it. It's probably not Sharon, but Sharon is a nice name just a bit dated.

Don't spell it Sharron or Sharren.

I don’t think Sharren or Shar are any better, really. Possibly worse. I appreciate that Sharon isn’t the real name, though.
I have known people change names which appear dated to another form of the same name, though - eg: Julie to Julia. Alison to Alice. Tracy to Theresa. Could you do that?

Unless it's a valid shortening/alternative of the name, I wouldn't. Everyone knows you as your name, it would be really odd.

If it is Tracey then I definitely prefer Tracey to Trace which is all I can think of
Patricia - prefer the full version to Patty, Patsy or Trish
Stacey - prefer Stacey to Stace
Michelle - prefer Michelle to Shell
Carol - can't think of an alternative
Donna - can't think of an alternative
Tiffany - prefer the full version to Tiff
Janine - Jan is okay?
Melanie - prefer the full version to Mel
Claire - can't think of an alternative
Alison - I like Ali
Julie - prefer Julie to Jules and Julia seems like too much of a change.

Those are the main names that scream 70s to me.

I would just use an initial rather than the two suggestions you made.

Is there a family name you could adopt for work situations at least?

I've done similar: my first name is a letter different to the one on my birth certificate - similar to Diana vs Deana, so not something that would be a natural nickname or said the same way in English. Some found it a bit odd, but I'd been discussing the change for years before it happened and it was important to me.

I know others who've done where it is the same name, though usually to a more common spelling or to make the pronunciation of it clearer. I wouldn't recommend making spelling or saying it more complicated.

Sharona?

Sharon is way nicer than Sharren or Shar

Just say what the name is. Nobody can have a view if you don't.

@CurlewKate , It's probably Karen, Nicola, Lisa, Michelle or Joanne.
It doesn't really matter what the actual name is.

I don't like my name and always feel slightly embarrassed saying it.
It seems a bit lumpy and ugly. It's something like Jean Watson so just dull and unappealing (apologies to any Jean Watsons)

If you are considering this and want genuine input then just post the actual name. Otherwise you'll have a thread about Sharon which is not your name

Sharon is way better tha Sandra ,,

I quite like Sandra, but it seems a bit like a 1940s baby name

Is it an actual name? I wouldn’t do it if it was a nickname like your Shar example.

I was assuming your name is Tracy which is fine and probably better than a version of it.

I've often thought of changing my name since I've got a very dull one, but if I did it would be something completely different and unusual. If you don't like your name, why not change it to something you really like?

I don't know what I like @ChocolateCinderToffee . Other people seem to have names that roll off the tongue.
I like DCs names but those are their names.

I have a really good friend here in the USA who I had always known as Lauren (which over here at least has no negative connotations). It suits her as she is very elegant - and Lauren brings to mind Lauren Hutton, Lauren Bacall and Ralph Lauren over here. I met some of her extended family a few years ago and it turns out her birth name is Lori, which she hates. Most of her family now call her Lauren but those that don't see her very often still understandably call her Lori. It was so weird to think of her with a different name! So yes, everyone will adapt if you are determined you want to change it.

If people ask you why, just be honest and say it was holding you back in business because of people's perception. You could even call it your "business name". Whatever you feel comfortable with.

But I have been in the USA a long time and people are much more accepting and easygoing about things like this over here and don't think they have any right to interrogate you about it. I don't know if your customer base is removed enough from the rest of your life where you wouldn't be dealing sarcastic barbs if that is still a thing in the UK!

Are you sure people would be that judgmental? Can you tell us what the name is so we can advise? After the discussion you can always ask for the thread to be taken down if you don't want to be identified later.

Do you have a middle name you could use instead?

You could use your full name e.g. Sharon Louise Jones