How to get your name changed

akuchi

akuchi

Yeah, forgive the shitty pun. This is a bit of a weird one.

I'm thinking seriously about getting my name changed by deed poll, from Anna to Claudia. My mother was going to name me Claudia before she found it meant 'the lame one', but given my numerous brain cooties and spinal condition I think it's more apt.
Without turning this into a pity shitstorm, I've been through a great deal of trauma in my life and this is the year everything changes and I get to go to University, move out, do my own thing. I don't really feel like Anna any more - I feel like I've completely outgrown myself. Whilst I'm still struggling with life in general it feels somehow right to alter my name as my perceptions of myself as a person are changed. I understand that most people feel like this to an extent at this time, though.

I feel awkward with this name somehow; I have already had my name changed when I was three (my surname, when it became evident my mother wasn't going to get any child maintenence from my father) so I don't really feel that attached to my name, I guess.

I'd also like to change my surname back to my father's surname, which makes a lot more sense and is a more 'normal' thing to do, as I feel at home and comfortable with his side of the family since I met them recently more so than I have ever done with my own. This would cause a major shitstorm with my mother's side of the family, as my mother hates my father and my maternal grandparents would throw a complete bitch fit. What I'm trying to work out is whether it's worth braving all that shit for a surname I'd feel more at home in.
Symbolically it's important, too - it would in a way demonstrate to his side of the family that I really do accept them and love them as relations. It's important to say that this is NOT the reason I'm considering the change.

So, Smogon, I ask you; have you ever/would you ever change your name?
What's in a name?
 
I was named after my dad (yay, I get Jr. attached to my name all of my life). I hate his fucking guts (long story, not for here), never want anything to do with him again. I have his name following me like the plague though, yet I have no intention of changing my name. Inside I know that my name really has no bearing on who I am as a person; I know that I'm not him nor do I have to be connected to him through it. It's something you're identified as verbally, not who you're really identified as. You may feel like a different person, like you've "outgrown yourself" (believe me, I'm so there right now), but do you really need to change your name to recognize this?

Point is, Anna or Claudia, you're still you. That doesn't differ with your name. If you choose to not change your name, you've still changed. It doesn't take another name for that to be true.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to talk you out of changing it, just giving my perspective on things. It's your choice and if it means something symbolic to you and you feel it'll make a difference, pursue it. But remember, a name is just a few letters; you may not like your own and want something "special" but what is really so special about it?

EDIT: Oh yeah, don't let your mom influence you if you want this. She had enough say on your name when you were a kid ;P
 
I've often thought about changing my names. Ever since I was a toddler I hated my name; I would sign my papers by different names, even make up new ones. My mother has an old x-mas card from me when I was 4 or 5 that says "Love John." I also used Josh and Adreco, the latter of which I made up in 5th grade and used for months, which annoyed my teacher. I even got to the point of doing the old pretentious "first initial/middle name" combo, going by A. Louis.

Hell, on one of my law school applications they had a "preferred first name" space and it took all the self-control I had not to put Louis.
 
I had my name legally changed from Kassem Abuzant (fathers lastname) to Christopher Monsanto (mothers lastname) in 8th grade
 
I'd want to change my name but for different reasons.

My first name really annoys me, my grandma can't even spell, and people mis-pronounce it often I'd change it to something simpler, but original.(It's not Tucker BTW)

I also found out that my best friend even spells my Nickname an odd way instead of Donny she spells it Donnie, I took on that spelling because it's alot more original though.
 
i don't like my name much because of how weird it looks in an english context but I doubt I'd ever change it. a name is just something to call someone by: people call each other by their nicknames or online aliases but it doesn't change anything.
 
akuchi, i think you're fooling yourself if you expect anything good to come of changing your name.

it is just a way of tricking yourself into feeling like you're a different person. a much better idea is to realize that you are a different person and that your name has no bearing on that.

i assume you realize how stupid getting breast implants because 'you just dont feel right in your body' is, so how is this all that different? be comfortable with yourself. shedding an old name wont shed old hardships, they're just something you have to deal with.

try your best to love yourself, that's all you can really do.
 
I don't really like my name much either. I had this guy in my school who literally changed his name every year, but nobody called him by his 'new' name and they just used his regular name. Which is mainly why I don't really want to change my name, it'll stick with me until the end of time.
 
My name means "bright" in Chinese. Like many Asian-Americans, my parents have two different names - their given name in their native language and an English name that they obtained after moving to the US. My parents thought about giving me my own English name, but I never really wanted one. My name is rather common in China, but pretty unique here in the States. Sure, people mispronounce it all the time, but I'd rather keep something I was born with.

Also my first and last names rhyme, which is pretty cool. :)
 
I have an Anglo first name and a Hispanic last name.

Its pretty funny because whatever group tries to pronounce my name, they end up getting the accent or pronunciation wrong.
 
Polis4rule said:
I have an Anglo first name and a Hispanic last name.

Its pretty funny because whatever group tries to pronounce my name, they end up getting the accent or pronunciation wrong.
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I'm in the exact same position.

Most Spanish speakers can pronounce my last name perfectly, but my first name comes out being "Caitlin" or something along those lines. >_>; My name is Kathleen.

My last name is horribly butchered by non-Spanish speakers.

To OP: I'd probably change my last name, but it's really not a big endeavor. I'm perfectly fine with my first name, so yeah.
 
I've had the idea of changing my first surname to my mother's (here we go first name - second name - father's family name - mother's family name). My parents divorced when I was little, I have lived with my mother for a long time, and I haven't seen my father since I was... 6? I just feel unattached from his side of the family.

Additionally, I like my mother's family name a lot more and it's pretty unusual for where I live. I haven't yet looked into how this whole changing names deal works here, but it's something I'd like to do in the near future.
 
Age of Kings said:
I'm in the exact same position.

Most Spanish speakers can pronounce my last name perfectly, but my first name comes out being "Caitlin" or something along those lines. >_>; My name is Kathleen.

My last name is horribly butchered by non-Spanish speakers.

To OP: I'd probably change my last name, but it's really not a big endeavor. I'm perfectly fine with my first name, so yeah.
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Non-spanish speakers generally just pronounce my name the Anglo way, though it's a very Anglo and Gringo sounding.

I don't necessarily care, as I used to pronounce it that way. Now I pronounce it differently depending on who I am speaking to.
 
My mom almost named me Etienne but my dad hated it. I am very glad he did.

We all naturally change and evolve based on our experiences. Our past, our decisions define how we become; I think it is silly to change your name because you consider yourself a new person. You wouldn't be this new person without having been the older version of yourself beforehand. There wouldn't be this new Claudia without old Anna, it is Anna that grew up and evolved and she needs to fully take credit for it. I don't think you need this name change.

Besides, it seems normality to dislike our name, for some reason. I had a friend called Samuel when I was 5 and loved that name while at the same time hated mine.

But I love it now and wouldn't consider changing something that is so deeply part of me.
 
when i was younger i HATED my first name. sharing a name with a cartoon character that everybody knew but most disliked put me at the butt of many playground jokes. it got to the point where i had to move schools in 3rd grade because i couldn't take it anymore.

i also employed the first initial full middle name tactic up until high school when my mom and dad sat me down and told me i was named for my great grandfather, who happened to be a complete badass (2 tours of korea and 3 tours of nam) and a really great guy in general. for a while i still resented my name but eventually i dove into our family history to see what this guy was like and it completely changed my viewpoint. now i am honored to carry the same name and hope to be able to live up to it. i guess in short i wouldn't change my name for the world.

i agree with Vin that changing your given name is a bad idea. the one person i know who has changed her name told me that it is her single biggest regret.
 
soon's I'm 18, I'm changing my name from Martin to Theodore. never liked martin, nobody calls me that except my parents. just don't call me teddy; theo for short.
 
My take on things like these is that if you really don't like your name that much, go ahead and change it. After all, it is what people call you, and you should be comfortable with that.

That being said be absolutely sure before going through with it. The last thing you want is to make a mistake in something like this.
 
I guess I'm one of those weird people who always loved their name?

In elementary I'd sit in class and write my names in different styles trying to figure out what my "signature" style would be.

Yes, I was a nerd.

Anyways, it could just be that I was aware of the history of my names: I'm named after one of my Aunties; my middle name travels down from the oldest daughter to the oldest daughter (and it comes with this cool doll that was my grandmothers first doll as a child); I got my fathers last name (which was fantastic as a kid, my sisters were always jealous of me as I was the only one out of the three that actually got my dad's surname; they swore they would change theirs when they got older, but they grew out of it and realized they could just get married).

Anyways, the only thing I can honestly say that got old with my name were the silly middle/high school jokes that were so easy to make up with it, ie:
I need a jean
I need a valley o hoes
 
aragornbird said:
My name means "bright" in Chinese. Like many Asian-Americans, my parents have two different names - their given name in their native language and an English name that they obtained after moving to the US. My parents thought about giving me my own English name, but I never really wanted one. My name is rather common in China, but pretty unique here in the States. Sure, people mispronounce it all the time, but I'd rather keep something I was born with.

Also my first and last names rhyme, which is pretty cool. :)
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I actual have an Asian American friend who's first name is Bright.
 
I'm agreeing with some previous posters that say you must be absolutely sure about this before doing it.

As for me, I like my first name a lot, actually. The only thing I don't like about it is that it is getting more and more common because there are some athletes that are doing really well with the same name. Up until these last few years, it was a pretty unique name for where I live.

My surname is mispronouned all the time, but that doesn't bug me.
 
If you change your name, it's permanent, so be absolutely sure.

Now, do you really think a new name will help you solve some of your problems? I'm not saying it won't, nor am I saying it will. It's something you have to think about. Will a new name help?
I really think that a new name probably would make quite the impact on your life. Having your friends walk up to you and call you "Claudia" instead of "Anna" may give you a totally different feel of things. Of course, that may be just me.
I used to think about changing my surname because everyone always mispronounces it, but I don't really care any more. Let them sound like an idiot is my view now.
I still make jokes about my first name. Whenever a person or a form asks me one of those "preferred name" questions I invariably answer something like "José Raoul" or "Mercutio".

At any rate, you need to do what you think is best. This is going to sound dumb, but accept advice only from those people that don't really care what your name is. These people are your friends, and they will treat you just the same either way. Good luck Claudianna, or whatever your name will be.
 
I've always hated my fucking name. It's so weird and obscure, everyone gives me a strange look when I say it (hint: Norse God of Archery). I also have to repeat it every time I introduce myself, since nobody gets it the first time (it's only two syllables people!).

I'd get a name change, but that costs money... which is against my Jewish sensibilities.

My heart says yes, but my Jew says NO.

On the topic of your transformation... a name change ain't gonna do much, especially since others have mentioned it won't do much, which only makes the moment of "transformation" that much more... anticlimactic.
 
Tucker said:
I'd want to change my name but for different reasons.

My first name really annoys me, my grandma can't even spell, and people mis-pronounce it often I'd change it to something simpler, but original.(It's not Tucker BTW)

I also found out that my best friend even spells my Nickname an odd way instead of Donny she spells it Donnie, I took on that spelling because it's alot more original though.
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Actually, Tucker, my boyfriend's name is Donald, and he spells his nickname "Donnie." =/ I found that out a few weeks after we started dating, after I'd been referring to him as "Donny" for over two years. Oops.

As for my name, I never really thought of changing it. I do believe that Abby suits me perfectly. As much as Abigail doesn't.

My middle and last names however....I like them too, but nobody, nobody, NOBODY can pronounce them properly. Both are very Italian...particularly my middle name. It's Lucia, pronounced "Loo-chee-ah", but the dumb-asses of the world dumb it down to "Lucy."

My last name is forever doomed to be shortened to "Cat", as my Confirmation teacher resorted to....

Until I get married anyway. -_- Though my boy's name isn't much easier.
 
Glen said:
akuchi, i think you're fooling yourself if you expect anything good to come of changing your name.

it is just a way of tricking yourself into feeling like you're a different person. a much better idea is to realize that you are a different person and that your name has no bearing on that.

i assume you realize how stupid getting breast implants because 'you just dont feel right in your body' is, so how is this all that different? be comfortable with yourself. shedding an old name wont shed old hardships, they're just something you have to deal with.

try your best to love yourself, that's all you can really do.
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I love that post glen, thanks. It's made me seriously re-evaluate what I'm doing and why. However, I think on reflection I'm still leaning towards changing my name - obviously I won't until I'm certain that is what I want to do.
Practically, a name change has a couple of advantages - if me and the boy stay together it's a lot easier for him (as everyone knows Anna was the student he was sleeping with). On a darker note, there's the plus that there are people from my past who have done terrible things to me and I'm pretty sure they want me dead. Whether they would look me up is very unlikely, but in the event they did it might be very, very good for me if I was that much harder to find.
 
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