Changing your name?
16 March 2007, 09:06 AM
#1
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Changing your name?
Regular poster here but wanting to remain anonymous.
I'm considering changing my name, I want to lose my middle name (Dad's father) and change my surname (Dad's family name). This is mainly due to a family dispute, as a result of which I don't want to carry my fathers names. The resons for the dispute happened a really long time ago and I've spent a lot of time thinking about whether to change my surname or not, it's not a rush decision or anything.
Has anyone here changed their name for reasons other than marriage?
I've done a little research and it seems pretty easy to do, easier than opening a new bank account or buying a contract mobile actually!
Are there any major drawbacks to changing your name, or is it just a little inconvenience?
For example will my neighbours immediately assume I'm a raging paedophile trying to cover my tracks? Will my friends/colleagues think I'm a total nutbar? Applying for jobs etc, will people assume I have something nasty to hide if my qualifications are in a different name?
Just trying to think out all angles here before I go for it, in case it turns out to be something I regret...
Assuming i decide to do it, I'm also toying with the idea of changing my first name (was picked by my Dad and is a weird spelling) - although I assume that'll be a lot weirder to do right? How do you cope when you bump into people who know you by your birth name?
Should I pick something normal, like "John Smith", "Pete Lewis" (
)etc, or something more exotic like "Josef Stalin", "Jack Bauer", "James Bond" etc, or would that instantly brand me "utter knobend" if I go for an interview etc?
Any thoughts greatly appreciated, ta.
I'm considering changing my name, I want to lose my middle name (Dad's father) and change my surname (Dad's family name). This is mainly due to a family dispute, as a result of which I don't want to carry my fathers names. The resons for the dispute happened a really long time ago and I've spent a lot of time thinking about whether to change my surname or not, it's not a rush decision or anything.
Has anyone here changed their name for reasons other than marriage?
I've done a little research and it seems pretty easy to do, easier than opening a new bank account or buying a contract mobile actually!
Are there any major drawbacks to changing your name, or is it just a little inconvenience?
For example will my neighbours immediately assume I'm a raging paedophile trying to cover my tracks? Will my friends/colleagues think I'm a total nutbar? Applying for jobs etc, will people assume I have something nasty to hide if my qualifications are in a different name?
Just trying to think out all angles here before I go for it, in case it turns out to be something I regret...
Assuming i decide to do it, I'm also toying with the idea of changing my first name (was picked by my Dad and is a weird spelling) - although I assume that'll be a lot weirder to do right? How do you cope when you bump into people who know you by your birth name?
Should I pick something normal, like "John Smith", "Pete Lewis" (
)etc, or something more exotic like "Josef Stalin", "Jack Bauer", "James Bond" etc, or would that instantly brand me "utter knobend" if I go for an interview etc?Any thoughts greatly appreciated, ta.
16 March 2007, 09:24 AM
#3
Love the "Pete Lewis" comment 
IMHO I wouldn't choose anything too exotic as it won't come across that well. There is a chap that works for my company (major consultancy house) changes his surname every couple of years... I have yet to find out why, maybe just to keep the IT guys on their toes!
Whatever you choose, best of luck.
IMHO I wouldn't choose anything too exotic as it won't come across that well. There is a chap that works for my company (major consultancy house) changes his surname every couple of years... I have yet to find out why, maybe just to keep the IT guys on their toes!
Whatever you choose, best of luck.
16 March 2007, 10:55 AM
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I am considering being Tony officially as I have always hated Antony (even my parents don't like it but vicar was an **** who would not accept abbreviations) 
T
T
16 March 2007, 10:58 AM
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Hmmm some interesting comments. Has anyone here ever changed both their first name and surname at the same time? I imagine that would be a little hard to get used to...
There was a bloke at my work who changed his surname from "Hunt" to "Le'Strange" a few years ago. But he was a right weirdo anyway so a weird surname suited him in a way.
There was a bloke at my work who changed his surname from "Hunt" to "Le'Strange" a few years ago. But he was a right weirdo anyway so a weird surname suited him in a way.
16 March 2007, 11:31 AM
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I work with a girl who changed her name via deed poll. Turns out her ex was a nasty piece of work, so she wanted to disappear.
Her middle name became her first name and she took her new surname from a surname she liked whilst looking for names in the phone directory!
Her middle name became her first name and she took her new surname from a surname she liked whilst looking for names in the phone directory!
16 March 2007, 11:33 AM
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Don't go for anything even slightly 'exotic' or be prepared for lots of sniggering in waiting rooms etc.
Two of my ex clients were Francis Rossi and....Shakin' Stevens (not literally, just two plonkers who changed their names and couldn't think of anything better.)
Two of my ex clients were Francis Rossi and....Shakin' Stevens (not literally, just two plonkers who changed their names and couldn't think of anything better.)
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20 March 2007, 04:34 PM
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ive changed my last name 3 times to be honest for various reasons but non marital, just change it by deepole and change it at the doctors your passport and bank details ive never had a problem really.
Good luck
Stephb
x
Good luck
Stephb
x
20 March 2007, 04:37 PM
#17
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I did a bit of research into this awhile ago for the same reason(father was an arsehole).
You cant pick names like James Bond, Jack Bauer, Cruise etc etc because these are famous people and you cant be seen to capitalise on their success.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
You cant pick names like James Bond, Jack Bauer, Cruise etc etc because these are famous people and you cant be seen to capitalise on their success.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
20 March 2007, 04:46 PM
#18
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Must have been a big falling out for you to cinsider this and I can understand the surname part, as really its not what you get called often! But I'd think long and hard about changing your first name, that would be weird to me!
If you must it has to be Pete Lewis!!!!!!
If you must it has to be Pete Lewis!!!!!!
Last edited by 16vmarc; 20 March 2007 at 04:48 PM. Reason: Added humour :|
20 March 2007, 04:54 PM
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I did a bit of research into this awhile ago for the same reason(father was an arsehole).
You cant pick names like James Bond, Jack Bauer, Cruise etc etc because these are famous people and you cant be seen to capitalise on their success.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
You cant pick names like James Bond, Jack Bauer, Cruise etc etc because these are famous people and you cant be seen to capitalise on their success.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
20 March 2007, 08:04 PM
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[QUOTE=Needanewname;6752951]Hmmm some interesting comments. Has anyone here ever changed both their first name and surname at the same time? I imagine that would be a little hard to get used to...
There was a bloke at my work who changed his surname from "Hunt" to "Le'Strange" a few years ago. But he was a right weirdo anyway so a weird surname suited him in a way
was is first name ISSAC and did he have brother Mike
There was a bloke at my work who changed his surname from "Hunt" to "Le'Strange" a few years ago. But he was a right weirdo anyway so a weird surname suited him in a way
was is first name ISSAC and did he have brother Mike
20 March 2007, 08:09 PM
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Girl at work, in her twenties and not married, changed both her first and surnames. No idea why. She was a bit wierd but after that everybody thought she was a complete nutter. Think carefully
Yours sincerely,
Orson Kart.
Yours sincerely,
Orson Kart.
Last edited by Hoppy; 20 March 2007 at 08:12 PM.
20 March 2007, 08:32 PM
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Well there was that girl in Essex changed her name to Subaru Impreza - I kid you not it was posted on here a few years ago.
The best bit was that she was interviewed in the press and it turned out that she had never even been in an Impreza!!!
Tess Coss-Chipper
The best bit was that she was interviewed in the press and it turned out that she had never even been in an Impreza!!!
Tess Coss-Chipper
20 March 2007, 09:40 PM
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You cant pick names like James Bond, Jack Bauer, Cruise etc etc because these are famous people and you cant be seen to capitalise on their success.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
You will find that your new name will have to be approved by the people responsible and you will probably have to give numerous applications until both parties are happy.
Charles Bronson
20 March 2007, 09:44 PM
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20 March 2007, 09:53 PM
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Not hard at all. It's not really a legal issue tbh. You can get a deed poll done, but all that is a formal and binding (on you) statement of your intention to use the new and not the old. Plenty of people just use a new name... no law against it.
The famous person thing I guess would apply if you tried to capitalise on a particular name - that might be the tort/civil wrong of passing off - but you'd have to be pretty high profile for the famous person in question to care. James Bond, being a brand name and doubtless registered as such in countless places, is the same kind of idea. Would Mrs Broccoli or whoever owns it now really know or care if you changed your name?
The famous person thing I guess would apply if you tried to capitalise on a particular name - that might be the tort/civil wrong of passing off - but you'd have to be pretty high profile for the famous person in question to care. James Bond, being a brand name and doubtless registered as such in countless places, is the same kind of idea. Would Mrs Broccoli or whoever owns it now really know or care if you changed your name?
