I have a friend who changed his some time in his 30s or 40s. Not sure what the significance of his new first name was, but he had been named after his dad. He also too his mom’s maiden name as his last name.

Nah, I enjoy the semi anonymity I get from having the same name as 2 different small time celebrities.

Look bro, you can’t do things because of them anymore. Just do things for you. Your name is your name, their opinion or relation to that name done matter.

Why should I change my name? They’re the ones who suck 😆

I did that when our family split and I think it’s worth dropping that name but at the same time I have mixed feelings about the name I added. To that point I feel it opens a can of worms that will have you question your name forever. I wouldn’t change whatever name you go by though.

I don’t think a name change would cause you troubles but would just add more paperwork.

My last name is neither my mom or dad’s. It’s my mom’s ex-husband’s from before I was born. I guess she still legally had the name after they split, and I inherited it - not her side of the family or my father’s last name, since they weren’t married. So I carry a last name for some family I’m not a part of biologically or otherwise, and have never met anyone from that family. And I’m estranged from the entirety of both sides of my biological family, so neither of those names would be viable replacements.

It does and has always bothered me a bit. I’ve never felt pride about my name or where I came from. I’ve never felt the sense of family that my friends seemed to have. Or the sense of identity that might come from wearing a jersey with your last name across the back. I just feel like a misfit, so in a way this misfit name is kind of appropriate. It’s hasn’t been a priority to change it, and nobody gives a shit for spite to have any effect. They would never find out.

I wouldn’t in the US right now. Look at the SAVE act, which if passed would block a person from voting if their name doesn’t match what’s on their birth certificate.

Under the current administration, women should seriously think before taking their partners name if getting married. Folks like you, OP, should weigh the trouble of legally changing your name versus just introducing yourself by a nickname.

You cited a US law there. If you are a citizen of the United States through any other means beside birth on US soil, I would not do anything currently to put a spotlight on that like making a name change. The current administration is obsessed with expelling people and their efforts are coming up short so they keep lowering the bar for who they go after seeking the smallest excuse to deport people to make up their quota.

Maybe revisit this idea in a few years or if you decide to leave the country for more sane lands.

I go by the shortened version of my name, because my full name was screamed at me so often, I can barely handle it when it’s used… That second syllable is like a gun shot, so one syllable it is.

The only reason I decided to keep my last name (still changing my first) is that my parents decided to actually start being decent people and care about and respect me. If they hadn’t, I probably would have wanted to change my last name too.

For decades, I have refused to use my middle name in conversation, documents and virtually everything else because it is my birth-father’s first name. There have been a handful of times where I had to use it on a legal document, but beyond that I’ve had no hassles or had to jump through any hoops.

I know people who have reinvented themselves and left the past behind, and I know people who have reinvented themselves and carried on with their legal names. Depends on the person and the setting. To each their own.

I changed my first name, and if I ever get married I’d take my partner’s last name. I’ve considered just changing my last name by myself but I would have no idea what name to pick. Ultimately I carry their name, but I’m not part of their family.

My girlfriend changed to her grandfathers name because she hate her father.

Not in any way related to the US or their laws.

I have my father’s last name and didn’t have children to perpetuate our toxic bloodline but my dipshit brother did. My sole purpose was taking me and my little cousin who lived in the same toxic environment I grew up in, but 15 years later and showing her a better way. We are still who we are, but no one knows the others from my family on that side, we don’t talk to them. It’s her and I starting a new family with my wife and kids and making something better for ourselves and treating each other with love and respect instead of like crabs in a barrel always trying to pull each other down. I kept my last name and we will make it better.