Changing names
 

No, I'm not talking about a forum username, I'm talking about actual, real world names.

I'm debating, in what could probably seen as an act of late-teenage stupidity, adding in the completely redundant extra middle name "Westgarth" (there are actually some family members back a couple of generations with this particular name, but it's partly just to annoy my family). I originally debated double-barrelling my surname to Westgarth-Lacey, but, as well as looking pretentious (:P), it would make form-filling a comparative nightmare.

So, here's your chance to disuade me from adopting this particular moniker. Or maybe you've changed your name yourself, and want to talk about it.

Or, to be honest, you'd be perfectly justified in ignoring this thread. It's not even very interesting.

*spots chance and patiently waits for it to pass by* :D

I find it interesting, though I was both excited by it at first and then disappointed. Excited because you were talking about real names, and then disappointed because you just want to add to it, rather than, well. Changing it.

I follow the philosophy that a true name is something one picks for oneself. My 'true name' changes as I evolve, currently, it is Neike Taika-Tessaro. My 'real' name, though, is Meike Pabst. I don't know if I would change my formal name given the chance. I suppose I might, if I get the impression my personality is going to remain the same long enough for it to be worth it :)

So, yeah, that's why I'd never dream of stopping you, though your reasons amuse me. :D

I should point out that the rules governing name changes, at least in the UK, seem to be fairly relaxed.

I have no real reason to do this other than constantly joking with my family that I'm going to. And true, actually changing names is more interesting (and better suited to my choice of thread title). I remember one man in a choir I used to sing in who'd changed his middle names to "The Magnificent" so that on his credit card it said "C The Magnificent Phillips". Now that was amusing, if really stupid-looking.

So, that would be mean you are one of the few English people to have three given names? That would be: Robert Tiberius Westgarth Lacey. :D Be prepared to have your third given name stand as your last name on driving licenses and the likes. They are always too small for the whole name (except the german ones).





- :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

I'd guess that most people here have three given names. My name happens to be Robert Peter Lacey (or Robert Peter Westgarth Lacey if we add in the extra one), and that's not unusual. There are people wandering around with two or four names, but by far the majority of people that I meet - and bother to ask - have three.

Mind you, Tiberius is also good. Five names might be greedy, though.

By "Given Name" I mean "First name". It just sounds silly if I say "Three first names". The Last name is your family name.

Right now you only have two given names (Robert Peter) and one last name (Lacey).

- :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Correct. Two forenames and one surname. My mother happens to have three forenames, but then all of hers are crazy anyway.

Robert Danger Lacey :)

"Danger" is my middle name.

Sex?

Yes please.

Robert Tiberius Westgarth Lacey

:9~ God, that's f#&king sexy! Do it!

Neike Taika-Tessaro

:9~ God, that's f#&king sexy! Keep it!

I've thought about changing my name before, mainly because I like my middle name (Julia) better than my first name. But when I came of age to actually do it, well... I've been Liz for so long that thinking of myself any other way would be difficult (although "Jeysie" has actually come close in recent years). I even probably wouldn't want to change my last name if I got married (not that there's a random cold object's chance in heck of that ever happening...)

Mostly though... well, it's just a complete pain the ass going through all the paperwork. I don't know about in the UK, but here in the US you'd have to change your Social Security number, the info on any credit cards or loans you may have, any student info you may have, IRS info, driver's license/ID info... and that's the basic stuff. Add in bills and magazine info and post office info and all your friends and family, and... ugh. Way, way too much hassle.

Peace & Luv, Liz

It has a meaning, too. :D Well, the surname, anyway... :shifty:

Glad you like it. :kiss: I'm tempted to adopt it just to seduce you further, hehe...

That has got to be the best name ever :D


I plan on taking after Indiana Jones and stealing my dogs name, since like like his name better and my normal name is way to common, especialy the combination of my last name to it

I mean, how am i going to go down in history with a name that so many others already have :shifty:

when a worked at a company taking credit card applications over the phone, i once took the app of a man who instisted his legal name was "most beautiul most amazing". he owned a record label.

i bet he has fun introducing himself to people..

Westgarth isn't so bad. If you like it, go for it.
Any mention of creative names always reminds me of the Hendricks sisters that I went to school with: Tonjaleria, Estralida, Malaria, and Toy (yes, "Toy" was her legal given name).

http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/sarge/Sad_anim.gif You're evil.

Homer: [shuffles papers] Then I'd like to legally change my name!
Judge: What name would you prefer?
Homer: Any of these will be fine.
Judge: Hmm. "Hercules Rockefeller". "Rembrandt Q. Einstein".
"Handsome B. Wonderful". Huh, I'm going to give you the only
name you spelt correctly. From this day forward, your name
shall be ...
[cut to a shot of Lisa, reading from a sheet of paper on the
Simpsons' couch]
Lisa: "Max Power"?
Homer: Dynamic, isn't it?
Bart: I love it, Max.
Marge: You changed your name without consulting me?
Homer: That's the way Max Power is, Marge. Decisive.
Uncompromising! And rude!

When I was becoming an American citizen, my brothers and I were debating changing/adding to our names. Andrej wanted to take off the J and become Andre (wound up not filling the form out right, though. He isn't willing to pay $300 to have it done at this point); My dad wanted Igor to change his name into Christian (which is what dad meant to call him to begin with, but my mom insisted on a Serbian name). Igor refused; And I wanted to add a middle name to Marko (but I wasn't gonna change the K to a C, 'cause I prefer this spelling). I couldn't decide on one though. "Jonathan" was the closest I ever came to deciding. I thought it was original, until I met a guy named Jonathan.

What, you mean, you only realise that now? :D

http://smilies.vidahost.com/contrib/sarge/Sad_anim.gif Well, no, but, I didn't think you'd be so evil as to torture me with such exquisite pleasure. It's already more than I can handle looking at your avatar every time.