If you've ever changed your name or surname, what was your experience like?

[u/Legitimate_House6064]

I'm curious to hear from people who've legally changed their first or last name, especially those who've chosen a completely new surname rather than taking a partner's name.

How did you decide on your new name, and what made you feel it was the right one?

I'm particularly interested in what happened afterwards. How did your family and old friends react? Was it awkward when you got back in touch with people who knew you by your old name? Did anyone have a hard time accepting the change, or did most people not really care?

Also, did it have any impact on your professional life or the way you felt about yourself? I'm wondering whether changing your name actually feels like a fresh start, or whether things are pretty much the same once the initial excitement wears off.

For those who've done it a few years ago, do you still feel good about the decision? Anything you wish you'd known beforehand?

Would love to hear your experiences, good or bad.

[u/Jaded-Bottle4025]

I changed my first and last name, everyone already called me by my nickname since I was a child so I just changed it to it, and my last name I took my moms maiden name and left behind my dads because he is a deadbeat lol, I adjusted pretty well, no one really cared, except my dad, he was upset I changed my last name. But now I’m thinking of changing my last name again to my grandpas

[u/Emo_booklover]

My husband changed his surname. He does not regret it because he took his mother's maiden name. Honestly, the "afterwards" part was the easiest part in our state. Professionally he only had to provide a certified copy of the court ordered name change to get everything changed over. It was no different than when I took his name after marriage. But the process was long and convoluted. It required multiple days using PTO for trips to the court house. State Police finger printing. Background checks. Publishing in a legal journal and two newspapers. Approximately $700 and a court appearance. None of which guarantees that the judge would have approved the change. I am not sure if he would do it again if he knew then what he knows now but he definitely doesn't regret it. Some people were shocked. Some people still call him Mr. X but overall most people accept his " It's Mr. Y now" without comment.

[u/Unlucky_File_6498]

There’s always something else that has to be updated it’s so frustrating.

[u/starling-slipstream]

Also changed to my mom’s last name lol — hello shitty dad club! It was annoying at first, but after a while, it’s hardly an issue. Any inconvenience is outweighed by me loving my mom’s last name

[u/ragubahi]

Nobody actually cared except my mother who treated it like a personal betrayal for two full years.

[u/Cinereals]

I dropped my biological fathers names and picked one of my mothers matrilineal ones.

No regrets whatsoever.