Yes! In my early twenties, I was disgusted with my family, especially my dad. I didn't want his surname, so I changed it legally. In time, I changed it back again. Developing my own separate identity has been the best thing, and it doesn't matter anymore to me what my surname is. My surname, or first name, is not who I am.

No put I was glad when I got married and my last name was no longer a reminder that my dad let.

I played with different names all through high school and was going to legally change my name once I turned 18. But I wasn't sure how and I never did it. I've made peace with my name now, but I wanted to change it for a long time. I think I just wanted to BE someone else - and that seemed like the closest I could get.

I have thought about it. It might help me to make a fresh start like that, maybe help me to lose the baggage I haul around from my dysfunctional, creepy family.

I'm not in a postion now where I could move to another place, so it wouldn't do much.

YES. All the time. Since around freshman year of high school, I've wanted to change my name but haven't thought of a better one. I have all of these memories of my mom shouting my name like she was calling a dog or something. I always wanted to change my name, move to a different state, and never have to hear about her or my step father again. I thought about just telling people my parents died in a horrible car accident or something. "She's no longer with us." I don't know what I'd do once the sympathy started rolling in though. I'd feel horrible about it, being comforted for a death that didn't happen. I also don't want to steal someone else's name. That would be awkward.

I have decided that I will change my name, but it's just one item on a long 'to do' list I have, so I will have to do it when I can afford attorney's fees. I am also considering getting a new Social Security number. If I recall correctly, it may be possible to do a legal name change at www.legalzoom.com for about $139. I'm thinking of taking the name David Hugh Beaumont or David Michael Beaumont - not sure yet. There are also a lot of people I would have to notify about the change, such as the Postal Service and the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Changing my name will help me to forget some of my past, which is a part of moving on to the better things life has in store.

Changing your name after abuse is actually a very common thing. I did not know that until I changed mine in 2002. I actually had 2 middle names, and one of those names was my main abusers first name. So I slightly changed the first to legally have my nickname, kept one middle name, completely dropped the abusers first name and dropped our shared last name. I know now that a name doesn't define me. I just don't want to be associated with that name at all. It represents everything I stand against.

I thought I was the only one!
I spent some time working out of state, I went by a false name for years. It was never legally changed, but I was under age and working on ranches anyways, so no one needed my real name. I lived as a new person.
For me though, I found that changing my name did not (no matter how hard I wished!) make me a new person. Bummer.
I never have switched my married last name back though.

I have shortened my surname and never use the full version unless I am signing forms.

I did change my name and I was told before the official paper work and all was done that I would feel liberated. It was a total head rush - a clean slate. I think it's been instrumental in my healing so far.

HELLO, SO GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, I WANTED SO MUCH TO CHANGE IT TO MY GRANDFATHER SURNAME, THE ONLY MAN WHOSE MEMORIES I RESPECT, ASKED A LAWYER ,BUT HE SAID THAT THE LAW DIDN'T PERMIT IT, STILL I WILL TRY ANOTHER LAWYER, I DON'T WANT EH SURNAME ,IT REMINDS ME OF HIS FAMILY, I HATE IT, IT WILL BE COMPLICATED ABOUT ALL THE AUTHORITY I WILL HAVE TO CONTACT ,BUT I AM DETERMINED, OR I WILL SHORTENED IT TO MY ANCESTOR NAME , AND MY DESCENDANT WILL KNOW OF THEIR GREEK ANCESTORS, LOVE L*********

Oh man.....YES. I know I joke about marrying my husband for his last name......but I am so happy to have gotten rid of my maiden name. It was awful. I feel bad for my poor brother and his wife that have to carry that family name. Just terrible.

In addition, I cannot stand my first name. It was my Grandmother's name and boy did my Dad hate her...along with everyone else. I absolutely cannot get the sound of my Dad's voice out of my head when he called my name.

Sadly, I have another problem. As the eldest child, I look a lot like my Dad. My nose in particular has pained me...probably since 6th grade. If I could just change that, then I could stop looking in the mirror and see my Dad's resemeblance in me. I know, crazy.

I finally made a deal with myself earlier this year: any future surgery I may need to undergo is going to get a nose job rolled into it. For years my husband told me to do whatever makes me happy. But, I just didn't have the courage. Now, I do.

My first name is the same as my abuser, but I have always used my middle name. It is a trigger though every time I go somewhere new that has my full name on file since they always call you by your first name. I always have to correct them. I have thought of changing it but just can't afford doing that and I also know that it's only that name I share with him and nothing else. The main problem I have with it is when my wife is mad at me she will call me with that name since she knows it really pushes my buttons.

I legally changed my name when I was 29, made up a new first middle and last name, and boy it sure felt good to be a new person. The person I wanted to be. All it cost me was a 75$ court fee. Then there was all the changing things with social security and the dmv and my boss at work. But it was relatively easy and so worth it. I hated my name before, now I love it.

i thought about changing my name (why pay for it? long ago people took on names without registering it so ridiculous) because i don't want to be associated with my last name (neither my first name). i live at home if i was on my own, i am not worried about my parents stalking me. would it make a difference on changing your name and being happier? i am not sure but i feel i would be happier.

with my first name, oh you won't believe the many different names people have called me or think those names should have been my name. so, i am not sure only time will tell......