New Last name?

General Name Discussion
1

{Disclaimer : This is miles off but I just want opinions}

So I hate my last name. My last name is [name_m]Landon[/name_m] with an extra letter.

Reasons why I don’t like it -

  • It gets confused all the time. I’ve had [name_u]London[/name_u] , Lamden , Lanton and even [name_m]Lambert[/name_m]. This is made harder by the fact my first name ([name_f]Maddison[/name_f]) is misheard as [name_f]Madeline[/name_f] and [name_f]Madelyn[/name_f] quite often. I also get [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] a lot.
  • It’s my only living grandmother’s last name and as she and I have a complicated relationship with some resentment I don’t know how I feel about it.
  • I’m not a big fan of how it sounds with my first name.

Changing my first name is not an option because A) I can’t see myself as anything else and actually like it and B) It was a name that was chosen by my mum and her mother who died before I was born. I would consider putting [name_m]Landon[/name_m] in the middle spot but that would be it.

Why I wouldn’t change it -

  • My mum is not a fan of the idea. My dad as far as I know is not bothered but I haven’t straight up asked him.
  • I’m an only child and the name dies with me which despite not being close to the family it does come with a weird pressure (it might just be in my head though).

I want something a bit simpler and easier to wear. So far my ideas are [name_m]Drake[/name_m] , [name_m]Brooks[/name_m] , [name_m]Baxter[/name_m] (which is a family name on my mums’ side) or Sorenson (which breaks all my rules but I like it). I would prefer no M , L or [name_u]Jo[/name_u] names.

So what do you think should I change it once I turn 18 next year , wait a few years then change it , wait until I get married and take my partner’s last name or not change it at all? And if you think I should change it what should I change it to?

2

Short answer: wait.
Longer answer: At the risk of sounding like a gross condescending grown-up, you haven’t really had a lot of time to work at making your name your own before chucking it entirely. I had a pretty hard time getting used to and liking my name, and didn’t make peace with it until my mid-20s or so. Give it a shot for a few years of being on your own and you might rethink it when L@ngdon means you (instead of your family) to quite a lot of people. (Who knows? By then you might get married and have a nice, culturally-approved, no-questions-asked way to change it, which is what I did eventually anyway. :slight_smile: )

3

I would hold off for a little while, even if it is just a year at minimum. Try out your options with your first name, think of pros and cons, research any potential costs/save up, and so on. I don’t think it should be rushed, but I definitely won’t try and talk you out of it. You are the one who has to use your name and you really don’t have to bow to any family pressures to keeping it or passing it down (if you do end up getting married someday and change your name to your spouse’s, then you wouldn’t be passing on your current surname anyway). I personally would do it before you go to college, if you choose to, because doing name change there can be a hassle (I got married over summer break and had to come back and constantly remind them to change the rosters and my info in the system…it was a headache).

Out of the options you listed, I think [name_f]Maddison[/name_f] [name_m]Drake[/name_m] sounds the best. I do like the others, but don’t think that [name_m]Baxter[/name_m] and [name_m]Brooks[/name_m] really flow too well with your first name. Sorenson is great, but has some similar sounds with your first name. Other suggestions:

Bloom
[name_m]Weaver[/name_m]
[name_u]Parker[/name_u]
Wight
Fields

4

Thank you guys for all your help! It’s going to be at least a year before I change it but I wanted some opinion/reactions so thank you!

@amber w It’s okay to sound like a condescending grown up you’ve earned the privilege. I definitely will wait a little bit to test it out on my own just like you said.

@namergirl3 I have to wait at least a year anyway as I don’t turn 18 until next august but I definitely plan to give it at least a little longer afterwards to make sure. I was thinking the same thing about [name_m]Baxter[/name_m] last night actually. I really like [name_u]Parker[/name_u] and [name_m]Weaver[/name_m] from your list and I talked to my best friend last night and she really liked [name_m]Drake[/name_m] too. I’ve added a few more to the list -

  • [name_u]Joyce[/name_u] (my middle name so I would just switch it around)
  • [name_m]Wyatt[/name_m]
  • Joyner/Joiner (sounds close to my middle name which is good because it still kind of honors my grandmother who my middle name is after but not good it the way of needing a new middle name)
  • [name_m]Boyce[/name_m] (The question is do Bs sound good with [name_f]Maddison[/name_f])
  • [name_u]Delaney[/name_u] (my friend liked this one too)
  • [name_u]Bradley[/name_u] (same issue as [name_m]Boyce[/name_m])
  • [name_f]Whitley[/name_f]