I changed my last name and now I regret it. What should I do?
When I got married, I didn’t want to keep my name because I grew up with an abusive father. My husband is deeply connected to his last name and didn’t want to change, so I took his name. Now I hate that I changed my name because I associate it with his parents, and they aren’t very good people, and I feel stuck. Any advice?
I’ve been married for three years and I still can’t pick a married last name
It happens all the time. Someone will look at me, ask for my name, and I’ll panic. What is my name here? My doctor and my library know me as Ms. My-Last-Name. Our dog groomer and favorite restaurant know me as Mrs. His-Last-Name. My bank knows me as both. And at some point, my gym changed my name to match my husband’s, but I forget and give them the wrong name every time. Who am I this time?
I hate my nickname and just can’t shake it
My name is Catherine. I was named after my maternal grandmother who went by “Kitty.” When my mother was looking to nickname me as a baby (since I guess that’s what you do with more formal names?), she settled on “Cathy” since she felt that something like “Cate” was too weird. And Cathy stuck. Forever. Despite my first attempt to change it back at the age of eight and the many (many) attempts after. I just can’t shake this name that I don’t like and with which I don’t identify…
How I learned to love my weird name
My parents chose semi-unusual names for my brother and me, because they grew up with very common names. But when I was a kid all I wanted was to be like everyone else. Throughout my whole life I’ve received a variety of responses when I introduce myself. There are people who just say “What?” or “Huh?” and I need to repeat my name or explain it. A few years ago I started saying, “Daryl — like a dude.” Nowadays, I love my name.
Different last names: How do I make our family sound more coherent?
I am a divorced woman who will be getting re-married soon. Part of me wants my daughter and I to have the same name, but I also don’t want to be stuck with the name that is associated with such a crap time in my life. Since I can’t change our child’s last name to that of my husband, is there anything that I can do to make our new family sound more coherent?
Has anyone else named their house?
So, I am thinking of naming my house. Has anyone else named their house? Is this too antiquated, or will I confuse folks? Or are we bringing the funk to the suburbs? (Good Rick James funk, not gross funk.)
Has anyone changed their first name?
I’m starting to research name changes and it’s very overwhelming and now I’m wondering if it’s even worth it for just the one letter. Can I continue the rest of my life as Jennifer legally and Gennifer personally/professionally? Anyone else change their first names? How’d the process go for you?
If you could create a new last name, what would it be?
Both my fiancée and I are both looking to change our last name to something totally new once we get married. So, Homies: What are awesome, bad ass, or geeky, unique last names to brand your new family with?