# New law: As of today every adult must legally change his or her first name. My new name is… **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 23, 2016, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680 "2016-09-23T23:20:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/41 "2016-09-25T14:27:43Z")
Call me Ishmael. 1)Some years ago - never mind how long precisely - having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me on shore, I thought I would sail about a little and see the watery part of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen, and regulating the circulation. 2) Whenever I find myself growing grim about the mouth; whenever it is a damp, drizzly November in my soul; whenever I find myself involuntarily pausing before coffin warehouses, and bringing up the rear of every funeral I meet; and especially whenever my hypos get such an upper hand of me, that it requires a strong moral principle to prevent me from deliberately stepping into the street, and methodically knocking people’s hats off - then, I account it high time to get to sea as soon as I can. 3)This is my substitute for pistol and ball. With a philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly take to the ship. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/42 "2016-09-25T17:14:47Z")
**QuickSilver** wins the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/43 "2016-09-25T17:32:25Z")
Hari One of my favorite fictional heros Created by one of my favorite Sci-Fi writers How I am known on the Dope ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/44 "2016-09-25T17:42:45Z")
**Roxy** 1. Roxanne was my original middle name and I always liked it. It certainly sounds way more exotic than what I ended up with. 2. My nickname could be Rox if I’m feeling tough. 3. I’d like the idea of someday being in a nursing home and pretending I was a stripper. Or in a 40s musical. Plus, it’s short and already close enough to what I go by, so it’d be all good. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/45 "2016-09-25T18:52:20Z")
When I become a supervillian I’m changing my name to Dr. Lucifer Aloysius Satan. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/46 "2016-09-25T19:19:13Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I count 4, not counting the OP. Posts 2 & 6 answered properly\*. What am I missing? mmm \*(State new first name and three reasons you chose it) ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/47 "2016-09-25T19:29:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Of the first 12 responses, exactly 2 - or 16% - have followed the rules of the OP. > > Gotta love the Dope 🙂 > mmm Okay, fiiiinnnee… Sam. 1. I like the full, formal version of the name (Samuel) 2. I’m traditional enough to prefer traditional, Biblical names like Jacob, Michael, and Joseph. 3. I actually prefer the short version of the name. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/48 "2016-09-25T19:35:23Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Posts 2 & 6 answered properly\*. What am I missing? > > mmm > > \*(State new first name and three reasons you chose it) #3 followed directions. Just didn’t make it a numbered list. #9 seemed good too. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/49 "2016-09-25T20:26:50Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > #3 followed directions. Just didn’t make it a numbered list. > > #9 seemed good too. OK, I’m outvoted. 🙂 I will fight this no more forever. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Marion\_Wormer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d07c76/32.png) [@Marion\_Wormer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marion_Wormer)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2016, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/50 "2016-09-25T21:58:45Z")
Babbette 1. People come to look like their names: Marion is an old hag, Babbette is an adorable flirt. 2. [You’re already thinking of a beautiful blond aren’t you?](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9a-X-6d17_o/UTt-a7GxaUI/AAAAAAAAI9s/fBtYQAd11CU/s1600/BabetteRaggedyAnn001.jpg) 3. “Babbette” with Frank Zappa singing like Elvis, Second weirdest song I’ve ever heard. ---
**Author:** ![MoonMoon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moonmoon/32/2959_2.png) [@MoonMoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MoonMoon)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/51 "2016-09-26T09:32:22Z")
I like my current name, but the law is the law, so I’ll go with **Delaney**. 1. It’s sort of unisex, which I like 2. I like the nickname Lane or Laney 3. Because I said so ---
**Author:** ![JoseB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/joseb/32/1530_2.png) [@JoseB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoseB)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/52 "2016-09-26T14:04:26Z")
Peralejandrovitchkoptalkoptolploskitivicko (1) I already know how to pronounce it real fast. (2) Trolling all authorities that would have to fit that into any kind of ID card or driver’s license, and will have to make sure to write it correctly. (3) General feelings of spite and seething hatred towards my neighbor in a generic sense. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/53 "2016-09-26T14:08:08Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > (and you must list three reasons for your choice) > > **Eli**. > > [ol] > [li]Unusual but not to the point of weirdness[/li][li]Short[/li][li]Cool song reference (Eli’s Coming)[/li][/ol] Not in my family. We have Elis and Michaels out the YingYang. At family reunions, with either, you need to go first and middle name or get trampled. I would probably go with Robert. We don’t have any Bobs, even among those married into the clan. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/54 "2016-09-26T14:24:17Z")
Pop. 1. It’s short, like my real, current name. 2. It’s what I called my paternal grandfather. 3. It’s what my grandchildren call me. ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/55 "2016-09-26T21:07:25Z")
Ebenezer. 1. It’s Biblical. Means “stone of help.” I need help to get stoned. I get by with a little help from my friends. 2. Scrooge. 3. My ambition is to become more Scroogelike as I age. Fuck the sanctimonious ghosts. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/56 "2016-09-26T21:40:52Z")
Skitch [ol] [li]Then I can grow a cool Van Dyke.[/li][li]Unique, nobody else has the name[/li][li]Did I mention the cool Van Dyke?[/li][/ol] Skitch Icarus? Icarus Skitch? They both work (as long as you don’t have a pronounced bi-lateral lisp)! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/57 "2016-09-26T21:43:58Z")
I like Thelonious, but then I’d have to learn piano. I’ll just go with Twodogsfucking. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/58 "2016-09-26T22:49:51Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Sara > > 1. Almost universally pronounceable, used in many cultures worldwide. I’d name my hypothetical daughter Nina for the same reason. Nina doesn’t fit me though. Maybe I would go with Hosanna: 1. Reminds me to praise God. 2. Different 3. Inspired by Sheryl Crow lyrics “He’s got a daughter he calls Easter” ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/59 "2016-09-26T23:44:51Z")
> [@Marion\_Wormer](#): > > 1. [You’re already thinking of a beautiful blond aren’t you?](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9a-X-6d17_o/UTt-a7GxaUI/AAAAAAAAI9s/fBtYQAd11CU/s1600/BabetteRaggedyAnn001.jpg) When I hear “Babette,” I think of the Sally Struthers character on Gilmore Girls. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680/60 "2016-09-27T06:10:31Z")
Margaret 1. It’s my favourite female name 2. It has lots of nicknames. I think I’d go with Maggie, but I could have subsets who called me other things. … call me Margaret at work, Maggie at home, Peggy by the women in my book club, etc. 3. Lots of songs with my name in it. The Stampeders have a song with my real name ( and jsgoddess’) in it telling us to wake up. I would feel sad if my new name did not also have a wake up song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-law-as-of-today-every-adult-must-legally-change-his-or-her-first-name-my-new-name-is/766680.md?page=4)