Going by Middle Name -- Later in Life

General Name Discussion
1

[name_m]Hi[/name_m], I’m new here. I registered to get all of your opinions! I am thinking about switching to my middle name later in life. Here is my situation:

My first name is [name_u]Hillary[/name_u] and my middle name is [name_f]Paige[/name_f]. My last name happens to be the same as another female politician that is recognized nationally. Therefore, my first name is the same as [name_u]Hillary[/name_u] [name_m]Clinton[/name_m]'s and my last name is the same as another prominent politician. For starters, I get many comments on this. As is, I always get comments about [name_u]Hillary[/name_u] [name_m]Clinton[/name_m]. Now that this other politician is gaining traction, people are making the connection and commenting on that as well. Another issue is that you cannot google me. Any googling of my first and last name yields hundreds of thousands of political articles, etc. I am not on any social media so I’m not too upset about that in terms of my personal life BUT I would like to be googled for professional reasons some day. I want to be a professor.

I am entering graduate school in the fall (I’m 28) and I will not know anyone when I arrive. I am thinking about going by [name_f]Paige[/name_f]. I would also then start my academic career as [name_f]Paige[/name_f] ____ or H. [name_f]Paige[/name_f] ____. One caveat to this is that I applied under my normal name (application, resume, transcripts, etc.). I would have to explain to my professor advisor (once I meet him/her) that I actually go by [name_f]Paige[/name_f], which I guess isn’t too big of a deal. Also, I wouldn’t change my name legally in any capacity (not passport, license, credit cards, etc.).

What do you all think? Can I make the switch? Is it ridiculous at this stage in my life?

Also, which name do you prefer? [name_u]Hillary[/name_u] or [name_f]Paige[/name_f] . . . just in general? More specifically, would the issues about my name bother you if you were me? I should add that I do not love either name. I guess I prefer [name_f]Paige[/name_f]. Most people call me [name_m]Hill[/name_m]. If I were picking a new name to go by it certainly wouldn’t be [name_f]Paige[/name_f], but I feel like choosing a random name is just too bizarre at this stage in the game.

p.s. I have zero negative feelings toward either politician – that has nothing to do with it. Also, I couldn’t care less that some people might hate these politicians (as in, the fact that people might have a negative association with my name in their heads isn’t a factor for me).

Thanks!!!

2

In general, I prefer [name_f]Paige[/name_f] to [name_u]Hillary[/name_u], in part due to associations with [name_u]Hillary[/name_u] [name_m]Clinton[/name_m].
I certainly think you could introduce yourself to new people as [name_f]Paige[/name_f], and encourage your current friends and acquaintances to call you [name_f]Paige[/name_f], but I think by this point it’s too late for people who have known you your whole life.

3

I go by my middle name, not by choice but because my parents named me after my mom but always intended me to go by my middle name. So I am not exactly in your shoes because no one has ever called me by my first name (except at doctor’s appointments or other places where I have filled out legal paperwork). It has caused me a lot of hassle over the years having to constantly correct teachers and stuff, but since you are in grad school, at least you won’t have to do so for long. I think getting people you already know to call you [name_f]Paige[/name_f] would be the only difficult part, but since you would be changing it more for professional reasons than personal, it might not matter. I say do what feels right.

4

I acutally really like [name_f]Paige[/name_f], so if you wanna go by it, go for it!