Changing my name. Any ideas?

Question

My name is Nancy Eileen. I have always hated my name. I am named after my Aunt Nancy. My middle name was given to me by another aunt but isn't a "hand me down" name of any sort. I guess it has the same meaning as my grandmother.

I am nearly 40 years old and I haven't liked my name for my entire life because it has always sounded old. I am thinking of changing my name to Anne Marie. Anne is a form of Nancy and is my daughter's middle name. Marie is my mother's middle name.

Any other ideas? Do you think it is too late in life to change my name?

Thanks!

I've always liked Beth Anne too. So, it will either be Anne Marie or Beth Anne.
??? My last name is pretty long (ending in worthy....won't give out the entire last name because that's not safe on here I'm sure...but that will give you an idea of how my last name ends).

So it's either Anne Marie ****worthy
or
Beth Anne ****worthy

I'm thinking Anne Marie will work better with the way my last name starts, but not so much with the way it ends...but really, how often does one even use their middle name when saying their name.

I like Erin Marie too....but I think Anne needs to be a part of my name since it is my daughter's middle name and a "form of Nancy". Problem with Erin is my daughter's husband's name is Aaron, so that's out. :-( (She's 21 and has been married for a year and just had a baby girl...Ryleigh Anne)....so I'm a young "grandma" (but called Nana - pronounced like mama) now. :-)

Answer 1

While you're here, have you a genealogy question we may try to help with?

Answer 2

The name "Nancy" was probably more popular during your mother's generation since lots of young mothers during the 1940s named their daughters after Nancy Sinatra just as mothers during the early 1970s named their daughter "Jenny" after the heroine in "Love Story". "Eileen", however, suggests a possible Irish origin. "Nancy Eileen" sounds slightly old-fashioned, but then so does "Anne Marie", which reminds me of the 1960s singer, "Anne Margaret". If newborn Emilys and Emmas are any indication, your first and middle name just might come back into style.

Your employers will probably call you "Anne" unless you run the two names together. Make sure that your new name fits with the ethnicity your last name suggests, but at the same time adopt a fairly common name that is not necessarily tied to any ethnic background, or at least that's what the book "Freakonomics" suggests.

Answer 3

I think Anne Marie sounds old too... how about just going by Eileen. That's pretty and better than Nancy. What was your grandmother's middle name? Sometimes old fashioned names aren't so bad... it goes in cycles. You also don't want to sound like you're 12, right?

Nancy means Grace
Eileen is the Irish form of Evelyn

You could go for a form of one of your names... Lina? Lena? Ava?

Good luck!

Answer 4

Of course it's not too late, if you think it will make you happy then go for it, but be prepared to deal with getting all of that situated with your bank etc. It may not be the most fun you'll ever have.

As for ideas, the name Anne Marie is nice. I've always liked the name Sasha or Marina, or Anya.

Also, a name can be made to sound as old as you want it to. I have many friends named Nancy under the age of 20. And at least your name isn't Gertrude or Mable...

Answer 5

I share your sentimants, I'm named after my nana, great nana and great great nana. There's loads of great names out there, but don't change it to anything too dramatic!!!
I would you suggest that you find out the meaning of your name and translate it into a different language. Or perhaps there's a name that you like in a book!
I like the idea of using your mothers middle name, but I'm not as keen on Anne (personal opinion only) I quite like the sound of Erin-Marie, but it's totally up to you!
You could just use a nickname, most of my friends call me Cato, with no apparent reason, but my brother calls me Glorfi or Aranel so...............

Answer 6

Never too late.
My recommendation is to just use a name you like.
You could sign you name N.E. "Anne-Marie" ***worthy.
Start by getting your Driver's license and checks printedthis way, and go from there.
You don't have to Legally change it, if you are not trying to avoid creditors or taxes or hide from the law.
"NE" could be your new name-innie? Or Annie?
Hope this helps, Anne-Marie!

Answer 7

Choose any name you like.But me as a family historian says make sure you copy down your original name somewhere so that many many generations from now when they start looking for you they have your Birth name even though by changing it it will be officical on Documents just copy down the other name for future generation. Thats all good luck with the new name.

Answer 8

I dont think you're too old to change your name, especially if you have never identified yourself with it, but I am surprised you waited so long.
Personally I don't like Anne, but Anna is one of my favorites.
And my other two favorites are Isabella and Elizabeth.
I would also say Emma, but Emma Marie doesn't work.

Answer 9

Anne Marie is a nice name. Its not too late, you should go for it if you want too.

Answer 10

Many years ago I lived in Cornwall, a friend of mine there had to appear in court for a minor offense, the magistrate threw out the case when asked to state his name he said Norty Razcal. Upon investigation it turned out this was his legal name.

Answer 11

Never too late but you will have to contact all of your creditors and a host of other people to let them know your name has been legally changed. Be prepared for the headaches.