[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?
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.