Have you ever thought about changing your name? Your name is part of your identity, but it doesn’t have to define you forever. Anyone can change their name, to whatever they like – within reason! Famous people do it all the time. Hence the reason why lots of big stars are known by a name that’s not their birth name.
Here are 5 reasons why you might want to change your legal name from Fred Smith to Chantelle Peaches or Carlos Diaz to Dexter Monroe.
1. You Want to Rebrand Yourself
Your name carries associations, whether good or bad. If you want a fresh start personally or professionally, changing your name can help you redefine your image. For example, if you have a unique name that’s constantly mispronounced, you may want to change it to something more straightforward. Or, if you have a common name that causes mix-ups, choosing something more distinctive can help you stand out.
Changing your name for rebranding purposes can be empowering and liberating. It allows you to take control of how people perceive you moving forward. Once you decide, apply for a name change on a passport and embrace the new you.
2. You Don’t Identify with Your Birth Name
Sometimes, people are given names by their parents that they don’t resonate with. This could be due to the name’s meaning, pronunciation, spelling, or simply not matching the person’s sense of self. If you’ve never felt a connection to your birth name, changing it can help align your outer identity with your inner self. It allows you to choose a name that reflects who you truly are.
3. You Want to Dissociate from Family
In some cases, people change their names to distance themselves from abusive or dysfunctional family relationships. Removing a paternal surname can be symbolic of breaking generational cycles. Changing your name for this reason may feel emotionally liberating. It can mark a fresh start and a chance to create your own positive legacy.
4. Your Name Causes Discrimination
Unfortunately, names can carry cultural assumptions that lead to prejudice. Someone may change their name to avoid ethnicity-based discrimination or to make their name better fit within their professional industry. Removing or changing an obvious marker of race, gender, or other attributes on paper can help decrease unconscious bias during job applications. It’s unfair that anyone has to consider this, but it’s a reality many people face.
5. You’re Getting Married or Divorced
Taking on a partner’s surname during marriage or reverting to a maiden name after divorce are common reasons for legally changing names. Adjusting names in this way can symbolize shifting family identity and roles. For some, it’s important to share a family name with their spouse and future children. Others prefer to keep their original surname as part of their identity. There are many options around marital name changes to suit individual needs.
The Takeaway
Your name is an important part of who you are, so changing it is a decision requiring thought and reflection. For some, the benefits strongly outweigh tradition. Ultimately, your name should make you feel comfortable, aligned, and empowered as you take on the world.
