Published on 12, July, 2020
I've been thinking about doing this since I was small. I absolutely hate my given name - it's long, too many syllables and I've always struggled to pronounce or even hear my own name. I shortened it to something more easy to say aloud, but still I cringe. My name also was said alot in vain growing up as I was misunderstood and wasn't diagnosed until very late in life - so it's traumatic to hear it and I always feel like I'm in trouble when the full version is spoken.
I thought up a better name but am having cold feet due to thinking I'm just being silly. I feel like I don't know what my identity is and my name is just associated with negativity I think. Users here may have spotted that I change my profile username alot because I just can't settle on 'me' either anonymously or IRL.
I'm really interested to hear others' views on their own names, do you like your given name? And do you struggle with what your name means to you? ie. your identity. Hope I'm making sense!
It is not silly to change your name at all, many people do this.
You have to change it legally and by deedpoll, it does not cost a great deal, make sure to research as there are lots of different companies that offer name changes, make sure it is a proper company and do a price comparison.
Take your time choosing your name. and then try it out for a bit. Do you have a trusted friend who could call you that name for a while to see how you feel about being called that name?
you might wish to narrow down to two to three possible names and then you can go through the process of picking from that.
Think carefully about the name you will pick, and google it to see what your new name/surname will mean etc. and you can always ask the opinion of someone else.
there is no point in sticking with a name you do not like.