When Did You Change Your Name?

[Guest AlexanderG]

If you've legally changed your name; when did you? I mean, where during your transition???

I wonder if they let someone change their name here to one of the opposite sex before they're officially that (not that I'm applying tomorrow but I'd like to know if I could once I'm on hormones and stuff). Look into it, I will. .

Thnx

[Guest julia_d]

http://www.netherlands-embassy.org.uk/pass.../index.php?i=51

explains it nicely

[Guest Liam]

My name isn't officially changed yet, but the paperwork is filed and it'll be official in about a month. As far as transition goes, I've been living as a guy for the last year and a half, but haven't begun any aspect of physical transition, or even therapy. People change their names all the time for all sorts of reasons; at least here in the US, you don't need to be transitioning or "prove" that you're trans in order to change it, even to a name typically used by people of the other sex.

Here's some trans-specific information on changing your name in the Netherlands (I'm assuming that's where you're from, given the flag under your name): http://www.tgeu.org/node/105

[Guest Joe Cool]

I waited until I had started T to legally change my name. You don't have to be on hormones to legally change your name. In MA you can change your name on your drivers license before you legally change it. If you feel that you are ready to go by your chosen name and want to sign legal documents as that name then it is a good time to change it.

Joe

[Paula ult]

I am MtF and changed mine last month when i started living full time, i was out to everyone that needed to know and 18 months on hormones, everyone is different, some change their name when they start hormones, some like me waited till there was a noticeable change, when i went before the magistrate she asked if it was an adult name change to which i said yes me, she looked at me and said approved, that was in Cleveland,OH i a do not know what the procedures in the Netherlands are.

People change their names all the time and not because they are transitioning.

Paula

[Guest AshleyRF]

I was living "full time" for a few months prior to changing my name officially but my case was a little different I suppose. I was always legally able to write my name as Ashley since it was previously my middle name anyway. The only reason I waited a few months was because I was going to have to renew my drivers license after my next birth day anyway so I jsut waited till it was close to my birth day to officially change my name. It was surprisingly and easy process here in Mississippi. All I had to do was file the petition and take a name change document to court with me and explain to the judge the reason for wanting the name change. She signed off on it no problem. I filed the signed paper and got the court order the same day. Two days later I went to renew my drivers license under my new name.

[Guest again]

Hi,

I'm not sure how it works in The Netherlands, but my son was able to get a name change before any surgery in Canada. He was on T for several months, but I'm not sure if that had anything to do with it---he was able to change his birth certificate, driver's licence, hospital insurance and passport. The one thing I seem to recall was that the gender marker would not be changed until he had some kind of SRS surgery (he has now undergone top surgery), in which case his surgeon could write a fairly generic letter to get the gender marker changed. Again, it's Canada, but hope that helps!

[Guest CJwar]

This is a good question.

I have not changed my name, but I think the second I am passing 70 to 100% I would change my name. But when I do that, I want to be able to change my gender marker as well. Cause it's too costly to do the paper work twice.

[Guest julia_d]

I forgot to say when.. 11/1/2001 .. to the one I have now..

[Guest AlexanderG]

Thnx everyone.

I know how namechange works over here, was just curious to see when you did it on the timeline. As with everything, on the one hand I can't wait but on the other I'm scared poopless that someday I'll live to regret all of it.

[Guest Alexander]

What reason do you give to change name? I want to change mine, but I'm afraid that if I say anything about being trans then I'll be denied. (I live in rural, southern USA)

[Guest Camicochan]

I lucked out with a unisex name, Cameron - no name change necessary! Saves me tons of trouble. I just got the marker changed on my license.

[Paula ult]

What reason do you give to change name? I want to change mine, but I'm afraid that if I say anything about being trans then I'll be denied. (I live in rural, southern USA)

I put down "this name better suits my identity", of course i was on the verge of full time and passed just about everywhere.

I am sure others have put something different down, i was going to put down gender change, but this looked and sounded better.

Paula

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Legal in Louisiana - no explaination required other than you are not a fellon or evading debt.

I am keeping my last name as it is generic and it fits nicely with 'Elizabeth Anne"

My friend Veronica changed all three of her male names - including the last. She was adopted so she went with her known grandmother's last name.

Lizzy

[Guest Nigh]

I haven't changed it yet, but I'm planning to within the next six months. Not because I think I'll be finished transitioning or something like that though- I just really hate my current guy name and want something with a little more flash.

[Guest Joanna Phipps]

I will be changing mine, but Im waiting till I get back up to Canada since there is no point in paying for it twice. I will still have to wait till after surgery to change my name and gender on things like passports and other official things.

[Guest sharkguy]

What reason do you give to change name? I want to change mine, but I'm afraid that if I say anything about being trans then I'll be denied. (I live in rural, southern USA)

I put down that I was transitioning from female to male. Unfortunately this led to a lot of awkward questions from the judge, but at least in Maine they are not legally allowed to deny you a name change for any reason unless it is to avoid taxes or a crime. The judge that granted my name change might be in a bit of trouble though because he has started not granting them for trans people so he might be facing possible legal problems. If you do write that you are transitioning and the judge does not grant the name change, contact someone like lambda legal or any trans-friendly lawyer really, and they would probably be able to help you out. Or you could always just say because you like it better or something.

In terms of the original post: I am still not on hormones for the time being (for health related reasons) but I changed my name two years ago, so you could say it was pretty early on in my transition.

[Guest IGotThatGoodGood]

Is there a rule on how many times you can change your name? I changed mines in august 09 and I wanna change it to something else.

[Guest Kaitlyn88]

Is there a rule on how many times you can change your name? I changed mines in august 09 and I wanna change it to something else.

Not that I've ever heard but I know that most states make it harder after the first time.

[Guest ChalenAustin]

I am currently changing my name.

You can say trans but depending on the judge it can take longer to get your court date out of biased.

You can just say you hate it but if it's obviously a male changing to fem name or vis versa than you might have to just come right out with it.

It helps to bring your carrying letters with you b/c some people have supposively tried to change theri name to the opposite sexes to commit fraud and so it's best if you can prove right off the bat that's not what you're doing.

Good luck!

[Shannonline]

For my reason I put "pending SRS".

I did mine the same month I started HRT as it was important to me, I was already passing in some places so my boy name was confusing.

I also changed it to a unisex name, well it's unisex but mostly female (Shannon) I figured it still looks acceptable behind a Mr but a lot of paper work now has Ms without me even asking I guess people just assumed, no complaints though

Also I had a theory that if I change my name during transition then again post-op then whenever I have to write my previous name in the future it will be Shannon and not my old boy name.. it's genius really

Just another way to get further away from my old self!!!

[Guest IGotThatGoodGood]

Not that I've ever heard but I know that most states make it harder after the first time.

Thank's

[Guest Nikkipebble]

I think I got lucky, here in the UK. One day, whilst in a whorl of confusion, I realised that I was already living as the person I wanted to be, and thought "why the hell not?" so got on-line and did a free deed poll there and then. I have a new name, only my kids' mother calls me by my old name, and that is to aggravate me. Most of my family that still speak to me get it right, most of the time....

I remember waking up next morning and seeing the soap lying in the dish the same way as it was before and thinking to myself that it should be different.... hormone confusion....

ho-hum

A name is just a sound that I react to. The headology however, is very different, it makes me feel better and gives me a smile inside

[Guest Donna Jean]

ho-hum

A name is just a sound that I react to. The headology however, is very different, it makes me feel better and gives me a smile inside...

LOL.....

I REALLY like that, Hon!

Well put!

2010 is the year for my name change, too....

HUGGS!

Donna Jean