Can I legally have two different names?

Question

Basically, I want to have two legal names. Ex: John Michael Stevenson and Steve Michael Johnston. I don't want to change my given name, I just want to add a name. I'm not planning on commiting fraud or anything, and I have no problem with registering both names with the government or whatever, I just want to have two different legal names, so that I can have a choice between the two. Say, if I become a doctor, I could be registered as Dr. Johnston, but still have a drivers liscence that says John Stevenson, etc.

Like having an alias, but completely legally, with no intention of hiding my identity.

For those wondering, I'd prefer to use a different name sometimes (one I already use informally) because it's alot easier to say/spell and just rings better after most titles (Doctor, reverend, father, professor, etc.). I don't want to just change my name, because I personally have nothing wrong with my name, and having to adjust to only using this new one after so many years would just be a pain.

Answer 1

To answer your question: IS IT LEGAL TO HAVE TWO DIFFERENT NAMES? The answer is obvious, NO IT IS NOT LEGAL to have two different names.

If the law allow this practice then there would be chaos in the registry beureu of every State or county that the person is in. Example the police is looking for one Michael Stevenson for murder, but since you have Steve Michael as your second name or whatever, you will be the prime suspect for the case. Even if you deny you are not the person they are looking for, you will have the hardest time convincing this cops that it is not you.

It is common sense now a days that when a person has two or more names, he is hiding from the law. I donot think you like this impression on you. It is not proper to have two legal names, for the purpose of identity or otherwise. Since we are only one and the same person, yet we have two different names. Doesn't this ring a bell? It is like having two wives, if you are a muslim it is allowed but if not, you got only one wife.

A doctor with the name of Dr. Johnston, when the cops ask for your licenses to drive they got the name Mr. Stevenson. Don't you get confuse? The people around you would not necessarily you since you brought this upon them. If the law allow this to you, then millions would also ask for this privileges including notorious con men/women and hoodlums, then the community and the government couldn't tell who's who now. Thanks to your brilliant idea to legalize two names for just one person. Now you are asking WHY it cannot be legalized?

Answer 2

Having Two Names

Answer 3

Sure. Lots of people have more than one name.

John Wayne's real name was Marion Morrison.
Cary Grant's real name was Archibald Leach.

Those are called stage names. Many writers have pen names as well. Andre Norton, the science fiction writer, was actually a woman, who thought that readers would be more apt to buy books authored by a man.

Under the common law, you are allowed to change your name without the permission of any court, as long as you are not doing it for fraudulent purposes. That's how women (and sometimes men) adopt a different surname when they marry. But that's meaningless, since that's a name *change* instead of a legal alias.

Under the PATRIOT act, you need to prove who you are in order to open a bank account.

If your driver's license says John Stevenson, and a patient writes a check to Dr. Johnston, you would need to prove you're Dr. Johnson in order be able to deposit or cash that check. You do that by filing a fictitious name registration with the state, and depending on the state, you may need to publish the statement in a newspaper of general circulation.

It's a rather annoying requirement, but if we have to give up all our freedoms in order to keep this a free country, I guess we get the government we deserve.

Answer 4

It's extremely annoying to see the skeptical tone here. There are several reasons one might want to have a separate name. In my case, I own lots of rental properties and I don't want the tenants to know I own the properties. I could hide behind a business name for this but that's more expensive due to several different reasons (insurance, fee's, etc). The negative tones portrayed are annoying tho so i had to write this even though it's 7 years old.

Answer 5

Not in the US.

One thing is to have an Alias, Stage Name, or Pen Name. Yes, many actors and book writers uses alias but all their legal document must reflect their real legal name. An "alias" is NOT a legal name.

Unlike actors, Doctors and any licensed profession should be registered using their actual legal name not an Alias.

In the case of actors and writers, their "Alias" is only to be used on the working activities for anything else they must use their legal name (driver license, bank accounts, tax report, etc.). And as a matter of fact many actors legally change their birth name so that their alias become their actual legal name.

One thing is to have one "legal name" and one or two "alias" BUT no-one (besides some law-enforcement undercover agents) in the US have ever been legally granted to have two legal names at the same time.

Answer 6

Something in the water isn't pure. No, you cannot legally have two names in the US. You can always make up an alias, but it isn't legal. Something is fishy, just can't point exactly at it.

Answer 7

you can only have 1 legal name in the USA. you could go by your first name and if you become a dr us your 2nd name

but why would you need 2 last names other than to commit fraud?

Answer 8

say if a woman remarries, and doesn't use her new married name, is this legal to protect her special interest.

Answer 9

In the USA: Sort of. Regarding last names: Once a woman marries, she could keep using her maiden name or she can switch to her married name or use both last names, hyphen optional. (I have also heard of men doing the same thing with their last names.) Regarding first names: I have known people that didn't like their first names, to use their first names with family and close friends, but at work switch to using a nickname or their middle name. The important thing is CONSISTENCY. Also, you cannot do it to commit fraud or to avoid debt - or the judge will throw the book at you. No matter what name(s) you eventually decide to use, you MUST continue using the same same Social Security Number and your correct address. You could be "Dr. Johnston", but your driver's license show "Michael Johnston Stevenson" (theoretical example). Also, something most USA people don't realize is that you can have FOUR parts to your name. For example, at work, you could be "Dr. Johnston", but legally your

Answer 10

No. You can onlyhave one legal name.