What do you think about a man changing his last name because he doesn't like it?

Question

What do you think about a man changing his last name because he doesn't like it?

Answer 1

Anyone has the legal option to change a name, for whatever reason, as long as it isn't to commit fraud.  Personally, I don't think simple dislike is that good of a reason.. but then some names are REALLY REALLY bad or difficult.  

Of course, persons who do family history, don't usually like it.. makes it difficult to trace records.

Answer 2

he's mentally weak.

Answer 3

hmmm.... that's a hard question, do you not like it due to family issues or just because its strange or long or hard to spell.  When immigrants came through ellis island with long complicated names they were sometimes shorten by the clerk.  Your name is your heritage (history) but changing does not change who you are.  Are you planning on taking your furture wife's name, or just changing iit completely.

either way it is your decision.

Answer 4

I don't have a problem with that. That's his choice. If he doesn't like his last name, than he should pick one he does like.  After the legal name change, he just has to make sure he get a new social security card and amends his driving license and any other IDs.

Answer 5

From the genealogical  point of view, I don't really agree with it because it makes our job so much harder to trace the generations back. And also, your name is part of who you are and where you come from. Why would you want to strip yourself of that?

So your name might be Clarence Wigglebottom, but Clarence might be a family name, and as much as you might hate Wigglebottom, the males in your family have carried the name for nearly 1000 years. It's your history, and you should be proud of that.

Of course, I understand that having a name might make you open to ridicule, and it's easy for me to tell you to stick with it for the sake of your heritage. At the end of the day it's nobody's decision but yours, so you need to do what you think is right. I just see it as sort of disregarding your family.

Answer 6

It's his name. It's his life. It's his choice. No problem for a future family historian if it's noted the name was changed. If not, it may make things difficult but not impossible.

Anyway, we females change our names all the time via marriage so why shouldn't a fellow be able to change his surname? Celebrities do it, too.

Gotta feel good about yourself.