People change their name for all sorts of reasons. You have the obvious reasons, such as marriage, divorce and gender transitioning, but there are other reasons why people might want to change their name. Changing your name is easier than ever before, thanks to deed polls. Here we look at the most common reasons why someone would want to do so.
Divorce
Understandably, many people wish to change from their married name after a divorce. It can help signify a new start and offer closure. You will need to apply for a deed poll to do this, as divorce alone doesn’t change your name.
Commitment Without Marriage
Same-sex couples, couples who are fully committed but do not wish to marry, or those who want to double-barrel their surnames may apply to do so using a deed poll.
Taking a Parent’s Name
Some people want to honour a parent or grandparent who has brought them up but do not share the same surname. This could be due to an estrangement with the parent whose name they have or simply to pay respects to the family.
Disconnecting With a Family Name
Sometimes people despise the name they are born with. It’s just something that happens. Perhaps it is a name that is easy to mock, or it is associated with something negative. There are also occasions when people are estranged from their family and wish to break away from the family name.
Gender Identification
The process of transgender transition usually includes a crucial step where a new name is chosen. Others, on the other hand, struggle with the choice and dwell on it for a long time. In order to live genuinely, people who identify as transgender may choose to change their legal name and/or gender marker. Transgender people frequently ask to have their names changed to reflect their gender identity. It is possible to generate entirely new names or modify existing names to their masculine or feminine counterparts. Similarly, non-binary people may wish to change their name to a more gender-neutral one.
Standing Out/Making a Statement
Some people want to have a quirky name to either honour a group they are in, an idol, or simply to be different. Names can make a statement, and an increasing number of people choose names that stand out and demand attention.
