In quest of a last name for a legal name change...

[FinnLassie]

Yes, that's a real improvement over Rhiannon! Why didn't I think of that?

"We're on a first-name basis here."
"Okay. Mine's Sweetie."
"...."

Honey Pumpkin would be another choice.
Or Candy Corn. Gives a nice autumn-y flavour to it.

[Peelee]

much as I like you people, I don't know if I should randomly publish my actual full name (even if it's a future actual full name) on public message boards.

Now, see, if you'd gone with Lee as your last name, you probably wouldn't have anything to worry about. It's handy, is what I'm saying here. Sea of anonymity.

[Vinyadan]

Honey Pumpkin would be another choice.
Or Candy Corn. Gives a nice autumn-y flavour to it.

Omelette au Fromage also has a very nice flavour :P And, if you write it Omlet O'Fromag, you can make it pass for a heroic Celtic name. Like Barach O'Bama.

[BannedInSchool]

Anyway, I'm about 95% sure I'm going with Edmund. I'm also about 95% sure I've got my last name picked out, too (it's non-pretentious), but much as I like you people, I don't know if I should randomly publish my actual full name (even if it's a future actual full name) on public message boards.

Go with "Fitzgerald" and people would have to work hard to find you in particular.

[TheThan]

Go with "Fitzgerald" and people would have to work hard to find you in particular.

Yeah, i was going to pop in and mention Fitzgerald, as a joke.
there's "a song by that name". Since you want to avoid another name of a song then yeah, i figured I'd better warn you off.

That being said, both Edmund and Fitzgerald are both fine names, just not combined together.

[Peelee]

That being said, both Edmund and Fitzgerald are both fine names, just not combined together.

I disagree, though i understand the people who think it would be a wreck.

[BannedInSchool]

If you're avoiding names associated with songs then also avoid "Tom Sawyer".

Catch the fish!

[razorback]

A bit of tangent advise - When we went to name my son, the wife and I put lists of names together for boys and girls as we decided to keep in interesting and not know the gender.
Now, my (our) last name is Italian and sounds like a pasta so I was very cognizant of the teasing that went along with that. I shot down a lot of names on the wife's list with 'Kids are going to tease him if we name him Fred as 'Freddy Spaghetti'" as an example. Just might want to keep that in mind if you plan on having kids in the future.

That being said, Everard just looks hard to pronounce and people will probably get it wrong a lot on the first try. Trust me from someone who gets their last name butchered on a weekly basis.

That being said, what do you want out of the name?
Common or uncommon? Something that is going to stand out or be barely a blip on the radar? Something, when heard, is going to get someone to think what you want them to think?

Personally, I've always liked the sound of 'Magnusson' as a last name, with the Magnus root.

[Professor Gnoll]

Yes, that's a real improvement over Rhiannon! Why didn't I think of that?

"We're on a first-name basis here."
"Okay. Mine's Sweetie."
"...."

"Can I just call you Mr. Uberdecimator instead...?"

[Scarlet Knight]

Why would you quote a passage that screams out "names are arbitrary and meaningless" while trying to say "your name is important and you should keep it?"

Because changing a name doesn’t solve anything important; the rose still smells sweet, but also still has thorns. Juliet thought as a child thinks: if Romeo could “be some other name” their problems would resolve. But it wasn’t the name that was the problem. If Romeo could “deny his father and refuse his name” would the Capulets accept him? Would her father let them wed? No, because he will always be a deceptive Montague sneaking around in a mask no matter what he called himself. Worse, his family and friends would now see him as a turncoat. Often the problems from a name are not really from it.

Your quote backs me up.
And I'm sick of having a female name that I hate. There's literally no chance that I'm keeping it…
Thanks for the advice, however; I appreciate all input!

If you are truly set on changing your name, I honestly hope you find one that makes you happy.

[Bulldog Psion]

Now, see, if you'd gone with Lee as your last name, you probably wouldn't have anything to worry about. It's handy, is what I'm saying here. Sea of anonymity.

Admit it, good sir, you're just a fan of Robert E. Lee, aren't you?

Omelette au Fromage also has a very nice flavour :P And, if you write it Omlet O'Fromag, you can make it pass for a heroic Celtic name. Like Barach O'Bama.

Omelette with Cheese, eh? Incidentally, not as anything political but just as something amusing, my wife, who's from Russia (Kazakhstan specifically) says that when Barack Obama was elected, a lot of people she knew thought he was Irish -- and that the name was spelled O'Bama.

I disagree, though i understand the people who think it would be a wreck.

I live not too far from that wreck, as the crow flies.

"Can I just call you Mr. Uberdecimator instead...?"

Sweetie Uberdecimator. We have a winner, folks!!!

[BannedInSchool]

Biggus Diccus?

[Professor Gnoll]

Biggus Diccus?

I find this name... risible.

[Crow]

Everard Johnny Hardcore III

[Peelee]

Because changing a name doesn’t solve anything important; the rose still smells sweet, but also still has thorns. Juliet thought as a child thinks: if Romeo could “be some other name” their problems would resolve. But it wasn’t the name that was the problem. If Romeo could “deny his father and refuse his name” would the Capulets accept him? Would her father let them wed?

YES! "Hello, Mr. Capulet, my name is Romeo Lee. Of the Boston Lees. I'm marrying your daughter k bye!" Done! Call it a day, be happy, hope it wasnt a mistake because thats REALLY rushing into things.

The killings were what would have unravelled things, admittedly.

Anyway, i have yet to hear that anyone wants to change who they are by changing their name. The name is explicitly called out as the problem. How would changing the name not solve that problem?

Biggus Diccus?

I find this name... risible.

I love you guys.

[Ashtagon]

The thing about name changes, on some forms (usually government) you still have to put all aliases, which would include your birth name.

Aliases are names that you use. A name that you used to use, especially one that you have formally and legally renounced, is not an alias.

Most usually, it is actors and writers who have an alias that would get noted on such forms.

[Starwulf]

Anyway, i have yet to hear that anyone wants to change who they are by changing their name. The name is explicitly called out as the problem. How would changing the name not solve that problem?

Exactly! While the OP did mention he can't stand his parents/family, the major issue he has with his name is the fact that it is extremely feminine and the fact that he is literally named after a Fleetwood Mac song, and that he wants a name that actually reflects his gender. In this specific case, changing his name literally solves his primary problem. Will it solve his relationship with his family? No, but it sounds like he doesn't care about doing so, and sometimes, that's the right choice. I plan on pissing on my biological mothers grave when she dies, so I understand hate of a parent. As long as changing his name makes him happy and properly reflects his gender which is what he wants, then again, problem solved. Trying to use passages from a centuries old text to say that it won't is silly.

[factotum]

I find this name... risible.

Don't you mean "wisible"?

[Quild]

Keep in mind that this is just a comment from a random guy on the Internet, but Everard sounds like a porn name to me.

That the kind of thing I also intented to say. I wouldn't name myself "ever hard" either.

Well, the Romans did name their sons First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth... (Primus, Secundus, Tertius, Quartus, Quintus, Sextus, Septim(i)us, Octavius, Nonus, Decimus). Many of these names still survive.

Oh, I didn't knew this.
My first name (Quentin) comes from Quintus, but I don't have in mind other names coming from other numbers.
So I guess the names of the princes in Stardust don't come from nothing.

I love my first name but unfortunately, Quentin isn't a very well known first name. I was often told from English people that they never heard that name. Until I mention Mr. Tarantino.
The worst of it is that I have a very common last name, which is also a very common first name in many countries. So people tend to switch my names. Like a lot. Really. The very people I'm working with since years still struggles with that. I hate them. Stupid last name.

[factotum]

I love my first name but unfortunately, Quentin isn't a very well known first name. I was often told from English people that they never heard that name. Until I mention Mr. Tarantino.

They never heard of Quentin Willson who used to present Top Gear in the pre-Clarkson, Hammond and May era?

[Winter_Wolf]

Aliases are names that you use. A name that you used to use, especially one that you have formally and legally renounced, is not an alias.

Most usually, it is actors and writers who have an alias that would get noted on such forms.

Interesting. But when filling out say immigration applications, you're required to list all name changes. All. But that could well be the exception that proves the rule for all I know. Then again immigration tends to be tighter about this kind of thing than domestic.

[Bulldog Psion]

Interesting. But when filling out say immigration applications, you're required to list all name changes. All. But that could well be the exception that proves the rule for all I know. Then again immigration tends to be tighter about this kind of thing than domestic.

Even so, listing the name on a handful of forms is a far cry from dealing with it on a daily basis, hearing it said, etc. etc. I can solve part of that, too, by never traveling outside the U.S. again. I mean, honestly, once I've gotten my wife back home, what's the point of crossing national boundaries again in this life?

[Vinyadan]

There's always some over-the-top option. Like, "Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Edmund Grandayatollahofrockandrollah, and I will be your steward today." "Edmund what?" "It's a Welsh name."

Or you could go the Mookie route. "Good day. My name is Roarboar Alphaprimeofthesupernovadragonlords. I am calling you because the Imhoff tank you installed last month in my backyard is already leaking. When can you take a look at it?"

I love my first name but unfortunately, Quentin isn't a very well known first name. I was often told from English people that they never heard that name. Until I mention Mr. Tarantino.
The worst of it is that I have a very common last name, which is also a very common first name in many countries. So people tend to switch my names. Like a lot. Really. The very people I'm working with since years still struggles with that. I hate them. Stupid last name.

Personally, I mainly know it because of San Quentin State Prison, which has become sort of proverbial around here.

[Peelee]

Grandayatollahofrockandrollah

If I ever need to change my name, I will do everything in my power to change it to that.

[Winter_Wolf]

Even so, listing the name on a handful of forms is a far cry from dealing with it on a daily basis, hearing it said, etc. etc. I can solve part of that, too, by never traveling outside the U.S. again. I mean, honestly, once I've gotten my wife back home, what's the point of crossing national boundaries again in this life?

Crossing national boundaries could be any reason. But point taken. In any case, I just meant it was a thought to consider, and you probably never will be 100% free of that name. 99% is still very good.

[SaintRidley]

Another surname option: Fightmaster.

[danzibr]

While I don't have any name suggestions, I have a relevant story.

I go to a monthly meeting, and several months ago my name was recorded as Ben (real name is Dan, btw). Then last month it was recorded as Eric. I thought to myself... ya know, I actually like the name Eric quite a bit.

[Flickerdart]

Another surname option: Fightmaster.

It doesn't work as well as it needs to until you've earned the rank of Staff Sergeant.

[danzibr]

It doesn't work as well as it needs to until you've earned the rank of Staff Sergeant.

New life goal.

[FinnLassie]

You could go completely mental, Bulldog, and get a Finnish surname.

Like for example:

• Veripää (bloodhead)
• Nännimäinen (silly translation: nipple-like)
• Varvas (toe)
• Rinta-Möykky (breast lump)
• Jormanainen (silly translaiton: Jeremiah woman (also, um, Jorma is used as a, word, um, for, the dangly bits))

Honestly though, some Finnish names don't mean the translation that I've presented (and there's many many other surnames that can be... misunderstood), but Finnish wordplay is fun. ... I don't think I explained this too well.