Name Change - Rachel to Holly

Hello everyone,

[name_f]My[/name_f] first name is [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] and my middle name is [name_f]Holly[/name_f]. I have always gone by [name_f]Rachel[/name_f], but have always felt more like a [name_f]Holly[/name_f]. [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] was my great grandmother, I have always felt that it was “her name” that I was borrowing, while [name_f]Holly[/name_f] was my own.

I like both names quite a bit. [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] is a bit more classic and timeless, [name_f]Holly[/name_f] is a bit more spunky, but perhaps a bit dated now. (I am 20 years old.)

Does anyone have any advice/thoughts on the two names or have any experience with changing the name they go by? Is it hard to do?

Which name do you prefer?

Thank you all in advance!

I like the name [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] but I love the name [name_f]Holly[/name_f]. The advice I can give is to have people call you [name_f]Holly[/name_f] for a year and say you are trying it out. Some people (esp family) may resist but don’t give up, insist you be called [name_f]Holly[/name_f] & remind them it’s your name just as much as [name_f]Rachel[/name_f] is. Get strangers to call you [name_f]Holly[/name_f], introduce yourself as [name_f]Holly[/name_f], tell coworkers/teachers/etc. Once you have lived with the name for a year, if you still feel the same way, then research the legal method for your region. It may cost a bit of money & you have to make a strategic list b/c all your records and accounts have to change in a certain order. But that’s why it’s so important to do like 12-18 mos of being called [name_f]Holly[/name_f] by everyone first. Otherwise, you wont really know if the process of changing your name is worth it to you.

[name_f]My[/name_f] own curiosity is whether people will get [name_f]Holly[/name_f] and [name_u]Haley[/name_u]/[name_u]Halley[/name_u] confused. [name_u]Haley[/name_u]/[name_u]Halley[/name_u] is pretty common so it will be interesting to see if people accurately pronounce your name correctly without reminders.

Good [name_m]Luck[/name_m]!