Legal Name Change Advice!

Girl Names
1

Hello fellow name enthusiasts! I have posted on here a few times asking for advice, as I don’t feel like the name [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] suits me. It has actually been causing me varying amounts of distress over the past 3 years as I’ve tried out several new names for myself. If you don’t read everything, please skip to the last two paragraphs for the most important part.

I know people who already know me will always want to call me [name_u]Whitney[/name_u], and I’m ok with that. But I would like to start using a new name when meeting new people, and when I eventually start a new job.

The way I’ve been testing out names for myself is by using different names for online profiles and for video games that I play. The video games are especially helpful because the characters will call me by that name and I can see if I eventually get tired of it.

I’ve tried [name_f]Willa[/name_f], [name_f]Winnie[/name_f], [name_f]Nia[/name_f], and [name_f]Mia[/name_f] (as a shortened version of my middle name). But recently I’ve come back around to just going by my middle name, [name_u]Marie[/name_u]. Originally I was put off by it because I thought it was too common and boring. While that may be true as a middle name, I’m actually really liking the idea of using it as a first name. It feels different in the first name spot somehow.

I would love to start using [name_u]Marie[/name_u] on my bank cards and documents, as well as signatures. I think it looks pretty written out and goes well with my husband’s last name, Ameduri. We are legally married, but have not had the wedding or name change yet, but we plan to do both. We had to get married quickly in order for him to get his greencard, and don’t consider ourselves to be “officially” married until we can have a wedding.

So, when it comes time to change my last name I am thinking about changing my first as well. The problem is that my mom is very attached to [name_u]Whitney[/name_u], so I don’t want to get rid of it completely. What do you think of me just swapping my MN and FN around so that I will legally be [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_u]Whitney[/name_u]? That way I can use [name_u]Marie[/name_u] on all my documents and cards, but I’m keeping the [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] for my mom’s sake.

I’d really appreciate some advice!

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if you like [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_u]Whitney[/name_u], that sounds like the perfect compromise (and plenty of people go by their middle name, so it’d be less weird for people you know to keep calling you Whitney)

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Sounds like a great idea! I agree that [name_u]Marie[/name_u] is really interesting and pretty as a first name. I like [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] too and it sounds like it makes sense to keep it in the middle.

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I think [name_u]Marie[/name_u] is a lovely name and [name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] sounds great! I agree with above posters it is the perfect compromise with your mother, and it makes more sense when people still call you [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] since it is still part of your name.

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Sounds like a good idea. And I love [name_u]Marie[/name_u] as a first, it feels sophisticated and fresh

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[name_u]Marie[/name_u] [name_u]Whitney[/name_u] sounds like the petfect solution!!

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7

Thanks for the input everyone!

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Why not just tell everyone you are now want to be known by your middle name and leave it at that. Many people go by their middle names, Two people my eldest son and young brother have always gone by their middle names. Family names just flowed better as first names.

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9

I was going to suggest this too - it’s fairly common in my family for people to go by their middle names (including one Marie, actually!), and I imagine it’s less of an administrative hassle than going through the formal name-change process.

I was also going to suggest the nickname Mimi from Marie; I find it charming.

Wishing you well, either way!

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I appreciate the suggestion, but one of the reasons I want to legally change it is so that I can use it as my first name for my bank cards, signatures, documents, etc.

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Thank you! And thanks for the [name_f]Mimi[/name_f] suggestion, that’s cute!

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You actually can sign however you like! I use my nickname exclusively. And using W. [name_u]Marie[/name_u] would work in other places but I do understand why you would prefer a legal change for total consistency.

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13

marie whitney works perfectly well and if you feel like it suits you, go for it !!

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