How realistic is changing my name in college to my middle name?

Question

I do like my first name, Dafna, but I like my middle name even more.

The problem with my first name is that many people have never heard of it before, and when they hear it for the first time, they say "what?" and i have to repeat is so many times before they actually understand my name. I wish I wouldn't have such a hard time with my name. Furthermore, I'm soft-spoken and people can't hear clearly what I say. That plus a unusual name is frustrating. My middle name is short and sweet and easy to enunciate and easy to understand. My mom says I should just tell everyone my middle name as my first name when i get to college next year. Has anyone ever done that? And do you think it could make me feel better?

Answer 1

I did that when I went to college. My name (Ansley) was most of the time mispronounced and hard to say, so I told everyone my name was my middle name (Madelyn). For the most part it worked out fine. People who went to school with me in high school were confused when I started using my middle name but they eventually caught on. I also would simply forget that I now used my middle name so people would be like Madelyn... MADELYN before I finally remembered that was now my name. So it takes a little getting used to, but you can pull it off.  

Answer 2

one of my best friends goes by his middle name, keith, rather than his first name, william.

i think dafna is a gorgeous name, but i can understand why it'd be hard for people to understand. if your middle name is indeed easy enough to remember, then by all means go ahead. but it will take some getting used to....people will call you by your middle name, and it'll take you a while to react at first :]

hope i helped :]

Answer 3

My husband goes by his middle name.  If you're set on swapping your names, do it as soon as you can!  The older you get, the more things you have to change- credit cards, checkbooks, correcting every professor or future employer when they see your name... the list goes on...

Answer 4

I find your name to be very cool and I really think that it may feel weird to you having people call you something you just aren't used to.

However, if you ever went by your middle name around your family or in high school I could definatly understand doing it. You could try your idea and see how it feels.