why did Bob Dylan change his name from Robert Zimmerman?

Answer 1

Wouldn't you?

Answer 2

Here is an answer to your question from Wikipedia:

Robert Zimmerman enrolled at the University of Minnesota in September 1959 and moved to Minneapolis. His musical focus on rock and roll gave way to an interest in subtler, Gaelic-inflected American folk music, typically performed with an acoustic guitar. He soon became actively involved in the local Dinkytown folk music circuit, fraternizing with local folk enthusiasts and occasionally "borrowing" many of their albums. During his Dinkytown days, Zimmerman began introducing himself as "Bob Dylan". In his autobiography, Chronicles (2005), Dylan wrote: "What I was going to do as soon as I left home was just call myself Robert Allen.... It sounded like a Scottish king and I liked it." However, by reading Downbeat magazine, he discovered that there was already a saxophonist called David Allyn. A little later he became acquainted with the work of writer Dylan Thomas and made a choice between Robert Allyn and Robert Dylan: "I couldn't decide—the letter D came on stronger" he explained. He decided on "Bob" because there were several Bobbies in popular music at the time.

Here is an answer Bob Dylan gave to Ed Bradley in an interview on June 12, 2005:

He said that was destiny, too. "Some people – you're born, you know, the wrong names, wrong parents. I mean, that happens," says Dylan. "You call yourself what you want to call yourself. This is the land of the free."

Answer 3

I think he is a fan of Irish writer Dylan Thomas. Hence, the name Dylan. I supposes Zimmerman might have been a difficult name for a performer to use as well. That was how it was then!

Answer 4

Bob Dylan sounds better for a singer.
Zimmerman is a very ordinary surname.

Answer 5

Not particularily a good stage name

Answer 6

For anonymity