Can you change your first name?

I think there's a longer process with changing a first name but I could be wrong.. It's definitely possible though!

I'm not positive but I think you can. I mean if you can change your middle name and last name in the name changing process I don't see why not.

You can change your name, but I think it's a lot more involved and expensive since it wouldn't be a "name change due to marriage".

I'm changing most of my name. My real name is not Emmy, so I'm changing that because I have never gone by my formal first name. I'm adding my last name to my middle name (may just get ride of my current middle name all together, undecided) and I'm changing my last name.

I changed my first and middle name. It wasn't difficult in Oregon. Basically a similar process as changing a last name except that I had to post a notice in the courthouse for 30 days and then I could change it.

Yes, you can change your entire name upon marriage.

My FH's last name is Rice and I keep joking I'm changing my name to Mango Sticky.

Of course you can change your first name. But it has to be a legal change. When you change your last name it is a legal change. You are just assuming another name. To change your first name has to be a legal change which is a lot more of a hassle then you think it should be.

When I see this post all I can think of....

My FH had to get the spelling of his name legally changed in his late teens because his dad didn't check the spelling on the birth certificate, so everything, like his SSC was wrong... Good news, it is possible, and the process isn't too complicated--at least it wasn't for FH!

It depends on your state. I wanted to change the spelling of my middle name and I would have to go through the court system to do it...I couldn't just combine it with changing my last name.

Oh @Janeen, please please do.

Lmao Janeen!

The most annoying thing I can see is having to get new copies of my diplomas. I also lost my original birth certificate and had to get a new copy, and you only get one new one and that's it. So I'm not sure if that would be an obstacle.

You don't need an original birth certificate; only the certified copy from the county clerk's office. I think I could very easily pull off Mango as a first name. It may not fly with my security investigations at work, but c'est la vie.

I'm hoping it won't be in FL bc like Emmy I'm planning on changing my first name from my formal name to my nick name. No one calls me by my formal name.

KM you're in FL right? You can absolutely change your first name, and I don't think it's all *too* difficult. I'd assume it's a separate process than your last name, but I did have a friend who's sister just got married recently (in FL), and instead of only changing her last name, she dropped her middle name all together and changed her maiden last name to be her married middle name (so if I was going from Sally Anne Vale to Sally Anne Ward, I'd actually go from Sally Anne Vale to Sally Vale Ward in her example...legally). If you're thinking of doing it I'd for sure do it all in one shot. Like it may be two seperate processes on the legal side you have to go through, but as far as banks, all of your cards, etc., I'd try to get it done all together. FH and I moved in April and I was so frustrated that I was going to have to change everything twice!

ETA: my parents have also had my name legally changed like twice already, all in FL, so I don't think it's all too difficult.

Kirsten is my middle name, and my parents always pronounced it "K-ear-sten." I always assumed it was personal preference.

But I always get people who think my middle name is Kristen...makes me crazy!!

I don't think that you should run into a problem with getting the copy of your birth certificate, I know in CA you can get them at a nominal cost at least a few times (which I've had to do twice).

My mother has been married 5 times in Illinois and has changed her first, middle and last names each time. She'd change the spelling, shorten it, lengthen it, change her middle name to something altogether different, add middle names that didn't exist, drop names... All kinds of things. To the point that I struggle to remember what her birth name actually was. Anything is possible. I would just check with the county clerk before you get your marriage license and your ceremony to see what your options are.

Janeen you crack me the F up. If you are ever wondering who likes 97.5% of your posts, its me.

One thing I will say it is so hard to get used to having a different last name. And I am the queen of having an unpronounceable name where nobody can exactly figure out what I am but I couldn't imagine changing my first name.

Haha Athena...I thought about the same thing