Seeking feedback for a change of name

Girl Names
1

Firstly, let me start by saying I’m an adult who wants to change my name. I’ve been mulling over the decision for many years.

I dislike my birth name primarily because when people read it, they can never pronounce it correctly, I never get called by my actual name because people seem to call me alternative pronunciations and I’m forever spelling it to everyone only to have them say, oh (different pronunciation) you should have said! (well, I didn’t say because that’s to my name). I long for someone to read my name from a piece of paper and call it out correctly!
I also had a somewhat abusive childhood and am now estranged from my family, and have been for several years. Changing my name for me feels like cutting the final thread. It’s not a spiteful decision, I just feel no connection with those people or my name.

I’m a working professional so I’ll have to do a lot of paperwork when I eventually make this decision, so it’s not something I’m taking lightly.

So you can get a feel for me, I don’t live in the US so please keep that in mind. I have university qualifications in English literature, history and education as well as museum studies. My aim is to run education programs for the National [name_m]Trust[/name_m] or manage a large country house museum. I’m rather introverted but a little quirky. I am married and have been for many years and I also have two young children. I gave my children easy, classic names so they’d never have to spell or pronounce them for anyone. There’s no question what their names are!

I have considered for a while the name [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. I like that is has a lovely long history, is easy to spell and pronounce - there would be no question as to how to say my name! I also love that it means ‘life’ as for me this represents a new chapter in my life. I do worry however that it might not age well and I may not be taken seriously as I age with such a youthful sounding name.

I also love the name [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], however feel I would still encounter spelling issues etc.
I’ve also considered [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] and [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] as I feel they are lovely classic names. I also wouldn’t mind being called [name_m]Harry[/name_m], I think it would suit my quirkiness.

I love the names [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and [name_f]Grace[/name_f], however these are unusable for personal reasons.

So I guess I’m looking for feedback on names and perhaps some well considered suggestions for names I might have overlooked.

Thanks in advance :slight_smile:

2

Of your choices I prefer [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]. These are both classic names that are easy to pronounce and spell. [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] comes next because although it is easy to spell and say, it is quite youthful to me. However, that is changing as the Zoes are growing up! I also think [name_u]Zooey[/name_u] Deschanel wears it well because of her quirkiness (though her spelling is awful). I personally don’t like the sound of [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], it’s quite harsh to me.

3

I’m not a fan [name_f]Cressida[/name_f], I find it comes across as a bit pretentious and my first thought is always [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] Bonas (and therefore toffs haha).

I do like [name_f]Georgia[/name_f], but it feels a bit meh next to your other options.

[name_f]Harriet[/name_f] is lovely and I adore nn [name_m]Harry[/name_m]. I also think it ages really well.

My favourite though is [name_f]Zoe[/name_f]. Cute and quirky without being too ‘out there’. I also think it ages well ([name_f]Zoe[/name_f] Wanamaker?!) so no need to worry on that score! I especially like how the names meaning reflects this point in your life.

If you really can’t decide you could ask your partner and children? See which of your choices they can see you wearing with ease?

As for other suggestions (though I like those on your list!), what about:
[name_f]Anna[/name_f] ([name_f]Annie[/name_f])
[name_f]Rose[/name_f] or [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f] ([name_f]Rosie[/name_f]/[name_u]Romy[/name_u]…)
[name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_f]Emily[/name_f] or [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] ([name_f]Emme[/name_f]/[name_f]Millie[/name_f]…)
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Tamsin[/name_f]
[name_f]Lucy[/name_f]
[name_f]Eliza[/name_f], [name_f]Etta[/name_f] or [name_f]Eve[/name_f]/[name_f]Eva[/name_f] (For me these have a similar feel to [name_f]Zoe[/name_f])
[name_f]Abigail[/name_f]

4

Thanks so much for your feedback and suggestions. I rather like [name_f]Eve[/name_f]/[name_f]Eva[/name_f], or even [name_f]Evie[/name_f], and I like that it means ‘life’ as well.

I have had a chat to my husband about it and he’s open to me changing my name. I have mentioned [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] to him and he didn’t hate it. I’d like to have a little list to mull over for a while and also I’ll speak to my closest friends and see what they think too.

5

Good for you!

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f] is lovely, but vastly overused where I live ([name_u]California[/name_u]) though that is clearly not where you live, so it might not matter.

Z names are so zesty. :slight_smile:

As for aging, I think of [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] Wanamaker (sp?) and I think it’s aged well on her.

[name_f]Cressida[/name_f] I adore and being an English major/teacher, would have no trouble saying or spelling it, but it depends on the people you know. I like Cress and even the idiosyncratic [name_f]Crescent[/name_f], a warm, buttery name.

[name_f]Harriet[/name_f], nn [name_m]Harry[/name_m], is proper and delicious.

[name_f]Georgia[/name_f] is a pretty name, but has somehow always struck me as slightly bovine. I love animals (cows too), but it’s just not edgy enough for my taste.

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Cressida[/name_f] are edgy enough and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] is a delight.

Have fun!
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u]

6

I really like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] from your list, partly due to its meaning too. :slight_smile: Meanwhile, my own first thought for you is [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] -there are a few spelling variants, but I think this one is most common? Meaning mighty in battle.

[name_f]Helen[/name_f] - light
[name_f]Nadia[/name_f] - hope
[name_f]Hannah[/name_f] - grace
[name_f]Sophia[/name_f] - wisdom
[name_f]Esme[/name_f] - beloved

7

I like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]. :slight_smile: As others have said, I don’t think you need to worry about [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] not aging well.

8

I love [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] too but have someone close with this name so it’d be a bit strange! You’re on the money!

9

I love [name_f]Harriet[/name_f] nn [name_m]Harry[/name_m] so much. [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] is another nickname for it that I adore. I have long thought about changing my name as well because of actually the opposite reason from you: it’s too common! And not in a classic way like [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] or [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. I just started going by a variation/something very close to my name (think [name_u]Ashley[/name_u] --> [name_f]Leah[/name_f]; [name_f]Nicole[/name_f] --> [name_f]Colette[/name_f]; [name_f]Samantha[/name_f] --> [name_f]Thea[/name_f]; [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] --> [name_f]Genna[/name_f]; [name_f]Brittany[/name_f] --> [name_f]Britta[/name_f]; [name_f]Jessica[/name_f] --> [name_f]Jessa[/name_f]). This made it easier for my husband to transition, since it basically feels like a nickname for the name (but not a traditional nickname where someone would say, “is that short for X?”). I don’t know your name, so I don’t know how doable that is for you, but it might make it easier in a professional setting and with your spouse.

I hope you let us know what you decide! I see posts like these and I wish the op would follow up more haha!

10

I love [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] and [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]!!
I would go for [name_f]Georgia[/name_f] though, you just cant get that wrong, its so easy to pronounce correctly
Good luck with changing your name, I 100% understand how you feel

11

[name_f]Zoe[/name_f] or [name_f]Harriet[/name_f]!

12

I really like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and [name_f]Georgia[/name_f]. (I notice you mentioned the National [name_m]Trust[/name_m], so you live in the UK? I’m in the UK and know several adult Zoes. I think it ages well.)

Some other ideas:
[name_f]Louise[/name_f]
[name_f]Sophie[/name_f]
[name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
[name_f]Daphne[/name_f]

Good luck with your name change!