Changing/appending last-name to avoid name duplication
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My name is a very common one, and I'm not just talking about my first name. My first name + last name combination is so popular that there were three people with exactly the same name in my high school. In my professional career, this has caused problems in communication. Many of my emails have been mistakenly sent to others, and I've received just as many of my colleagues with the same name. This is especially problematic when one of us goes on vacation (and thus cannot forward on time-sensitive communications).
I've just moved to a new area with my family, and I'm applying to jobs. Let's say my name is John Smith. I'm considering appending my mother's maiden name, say Abigail to my name as follows: John Smith-Abigail.
If I apply to jobs using this name and continue to use it at work, will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself? I ask because "-Abigail" will not appear on my driver's license and other IDs. Things like having to pick up packages under my name but the name on my ID does not exactly match.
communication efficiency
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show 3 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
My name is a very common one, and I'm not just talking about my first name. My first name + last name combination is so popular that there were three people with exactly the same name in my high school. In my professional career, this has caused problems in communication. Many of my emails have been mistakenly sent to others, and I've received just as many of my colleagues with the same name. This is especially problematic when one of us goes on vacation (and thus cannot forward on time-sensitive communications).
I've just moved to a new area with my family, and I'm applying to jobs. Let's say my name is John Smith. I'm considering appending my mother's maiden name, say Abigail to my name as follows: John Smith-Abigail.
If I apply to jobs using this name and continue to use it at work, will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself? I ask because "-Abigail" will not appear on my driver's license and other IDs. Things like having to pick up packages under my name but the name on my ID does not exactly match.
communication efficiency
you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
1
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
1
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14
 |Â
show 3 more comments
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
up vote
10
down vote
favorite
My name is a very common one, and I'm not just talking about my first name. My first name + last name combination is so popular that there were three people with exactly the same name in my high school. In my professional career, this has caused problems in communication. Many of my emails have been mistakenly sent to others, and I've received just as many of my colleagues with the same name. This is especially problematic when one of us goes on vacation (and thus cannot forward on time-sensitive communications).
I've just moved to a new area with my family, and I'm applying to jobs. Let's say my name is John Smith. I'm considering appending my mother's maiden name, say Abigail to my name as follows: John Smith-Abigail.
If I apply to jobs using this name and continue to use it at work, will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself? I ask because "-Abigail" will not appear on my driver's license and other IDs. Things like having to pick up packages under my name but the name on my ID does not exactly match.
communication efficiency
My name is a very common one, and I'm not just talking about my first name. My first name + last name combination is so popular that there were three people with exactly the same name in my high school. In my professional career, this has caused problems in communication. Many of my emails have been mistakenly sent to others, and I've received just as many of my colleagues with the same name. This is especially problematic when one of us goes on vacation (and thus cannot forward on time-sensitive communications).
I've just moved to a new area with my family, and I'm applying to jobs. Let's say my name is John Smith. I'm considering appending my mother's maiden name, say Abigail to my name as follows: John Smith-Abigail.
If I apply to jobs using this name and continue to use it at work, will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself? I ask because "-Abigail" will not appear on my driver's license and other IDs. Things like having to pick up packages under my name but the name on my ID does not exactly match.
communication efficiency
edited Jun 3 '16 at 3:48
atk
2,26411420
2,26411420
asked Jun 2 '16 at 7:22
JHN
512
512
you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
1
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
1
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14
 |Â
show 3 more comments
you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
1
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
1
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14
you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
1
1
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
1
1
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14
 |Â
show 3 more comments
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
Doing something to differentiate your name from the pack shouldn't raise eyebrows (based on US experience), but altering your family name in particular could cause some confusion. Think HR and government paperwork (taxes, verification of work authorization, etc). I suggest instead altering your given name in some fashion.
At my current company there is a very common first-name/last-name pair -- there are 12 of them in the corporate Exchange directory. (Granted, it's a large company.) Being john.smith11@exmaple.com to the email system is no fun at all. Approaches I have seen include:
Use a nickname. I once worked with a Bear who was really a John. Make sure your nickname is workplace-appropriate, including customer-appropriate.
Add a middle name. There might be bunches of John Smiths, but if you're the only John Xavier Smith, you can use that. That probably doesn't really have to be your middle name.
Use a first initial plus middle name, or just use a middle name as a first name. I once worked with a J. Mark Lastname, and I've worked with more than one person whose "first" name was really a middle name.
For any alteration, make sure official paperwork has your real name, and don't forget travel profiles if somebody else will be booking plane tickets for you. (Airport security might require that the name on the ticket match the name on your government-issued ID.)
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself
No, unless you end up in a crazy company changing your name like this is perfectly normal. You're not even changing your last name entirely but merely expanding it to a double name, which is something that married women already do routinely.
In the US there is no need for your legally registered name to match the name you commonly go by, whether that's a first or last name. Name change laws vary by state but in general your assumed name can sometimes be considered a legally assumed name even without following the necessary paperwork for an "official" name change. Note that a pseudonym that has no relation to your family generally doesn't have this benefit.
All hiring paperwork should probably list your official name associated with your SSN to avoid payroll or benefits issues. You should also make sure that your resume and online profiles make a reference to your previous name. You'll want to make sure that you make it exceedingly clear in the hiring process that you're currently going by your new name, to avoid email accounts or other things being created based on your official name.
For further reading and things to consider before going through with your name change you should have a look at these questions:
- How do I handle my last name changing after marriage?
- Risks in future career opportunities because of a legal name change
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
suggest improvements |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
10
down vote
Doing something to differentiate your name from the pack shouldn't raise eyebrows (based on US experience), but altering your family name in particular could cause some confusion. Think HR and government paperwork (taxes, verification of work authorization, etc). I suggest instead altering your given name in some fashion.
At my current company there is a very common first-name/last-name pair -- there are 12 of them in the corporate Exchange directory. (Granted, it's a large company.) Being john.smith11@exmaple.com to the email system is no fun at all. Approaches I have seen include:
Use a nickname. I once worked with a Bear who was really a John. Make sure your nickname is workplace-appropriate, including customer-appropriate.
Add a middle name. There might be bunches of John Smiths, but if you're the only John Xavier Smith, you can use that. That probably doesn't really have to be your middle name.
Use a first initial plus middle name, or just use a middle name as a first name. I once worked with a J. Mark Lastname, and I've worked with more than one person whose "first" name was really a middle name.
For any alteration, make sure official paperwork has your real name, and don't forget travel profiles if somebody else will be booking plane tickets for you. (Airport security might require that the name on the ticket match the name on your government-issued ID.)
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
10
down vote
Doing something to differentiate your name from the pack shouldn't raise eyebrows (based on US experience), but altering your family name in particular could cause some confusion. Think HR and government paperwork (taxes, verification of work authorization, etc). I suggest instead altering your given name in some fashion.
At my current company there is a very common first-name/last-name pair -- there are 12 of them in the corporate Exchange directory. (Granted, it's a large company.) Being john.smith11@exmaple.com to the email system is no fun at all. Approaches I have seen include:
Use a nickname. I once worked with a Bear who was really a John. Make sure your nickname is workplace-appropriate, including customer-appropriate.
Add a middle name. There might be bunches of John Smiths, but if you're the only John Xavier Smith, you can use that. That probably doesn't really have to be your middle name.
Use a first initial plus middle name, or just use a middle name as a first name. I once worked with a J. Mark Lastname, and I've worked with more than one person whose "first" name was really a middle name.
For any alteration, make sure official paperwork has your real name, and don't forget travel profiles if somebody else will be booking plane tickets for you. (Airport security might require that the name on the ticket match the name on your government-issued ID.)
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
10
down vote
up vote
10
down vote
Doing something to differentiate your name from the pack shouldn't raise eyebrows (based on US experience), but altering your family name in particular could cause some confusion. Think HR and government paperwork (taxes, verification of work authorization, etc). I suggest instead altering your given name in some fashion.
At my current company there is a very common first-name/last-name pair -- there are 12 of them in the corporate Exchange directory. (Granted, it's a large company.) Being john.smith11@exmaple.com to the email system is no fun at all. Approaches I have seen include:
Use a nickname. I once worked with a Bear who was really a John. Make sure your nickname is workplace-appropriate, including customer-appropriate.
Add a middle name. There might be bunches of John Smiths, but if you're the only John Xavier Smith, you can use that. That probably doesn't really have to be your middle name.
Use a first initial plus middle name, or just use a middle name as a first name. I once worked with a J. Mark Lastname, and I've worked with more than one person whose "first" name was really a middle name.
For any alteration, make sure official paperwork has your real name, and don't forget travel profiles if somebody else will be booking plane tickets for you. (Airport security might require that the name on the ticket match the name on your government-issued ID.)
Doing something to differentiate your name from the pack shouldn't raise eyebrows (based on US experience), but altering your family name in particular could cause some confusion. Think HR and government paperwork (taxes, verification of work authorization, etc). I suggest instead altering your given name in some fashion.
At my current company there is a very common first-name/last-name pair -- there are 12 of them in the corporate Exchange directory. (Granted, it's a large company.) Being john.smith11@exmaple.com to the email system is no fun at all. Approaches I have seen include:
Use a nickname. I once worked with a Bear who was really a John. Make sure your nickname is workplace-appropriate, including customer-appropriate.
Add a middle name. There might be bunches of John Smiths, but if you're the only John Xavier Smith, you can use that. That probably doesn't really have to be your middle name.
Use a first initial plus middle name, or just use a middle name as a first name. I once worked with a J. Mark Lastname, and I've worked with more than one person whose "first" name was really a middle name.
For any alteration, make sure official paperwork has your real name, and don't forget travel profiles if somebody else will be booking plane tickets for you. (Airport security might require that the name on the ticket match the name on your government-issued ID.)
answered Jun 2 '16 at 19:46
Monica Cellio♦
43.7k17114191
43.7k17114191
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
suggest improvements |Â
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
+1 for addressing the root question, how to distinguish yourself when you have a common name.
– David K
Jun 2 '16 at 19:52
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
I know and have worked with a ton of people who use their middle names as their first names. Oftentimes, you never even know what their first name is. If you are already at a place, this could be a little odd, but going forward no problem. (I know a woman who tried to get folks to call her a different first name after working with them for a decade and she was treated as a whack job). If you are a guy, changing your last name might be looked at as odd since typically it's women who do that, and you might take some ribbing, also confusion if you have no reason.
– TechnicalEmployee
Jun 4 '16 at 22:08
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself
No, unless you end up in a crazy company changing your name like this is perfectly normal. You're not even changing your last name entirely but merely expanding it to a double name, which is something that married women already do routinely.
In the US there is no need for your legally registered name to match the name you commonly go by, whether that's a first or last name. Name change laws vary by state but in general your assumed name can sometimes be considered a legally assumed name even without following the necessary paperwork for an "official" name change. Note that a pseudonym that has no relation to your family generally doesn't have this benefit.
All hiring paperwork should probably list your official name associated with your SSN to avoid payroll or benefits issues. You should also make sure that your resume and online profiles make a reference to your previous name. You'll want to make sure that you make it exceedingly clear in the hiring process that you're currently going by your new name, to avoid email accounts or other things being created based on your official name.
For further reading and things to consider before going through with your name change you should have a look at these questions:
- How do I handle my last name changing after marriage?
- Risks in future career opportunities because of a legal name change
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
6
down vote
Will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself
No, unless you end up in a crazy company changing your name like this is perfectly normal. You're not even changing your last name entirely but merely expanding it to a double name, which is something that married women already do routinely.
In the US there is no need for your legally registered name to match the name you commonly go by, whether that's a first or last name. Name change laws vary by state but in general your assumed name can sometimes be considered a legally assumed name even without following the necessary paperwork for an "official" name change. Note that a pseudonym that has no relation to your family generally doesn't have this benefit.
All hiring paperwork should probably list your official name associated with your SSN to avoid payroll or benefits issues. You should also make sure that your resume and online profiles make a reference to your previous name. You'll want to make sure that you make it exceedingly clear in the hiring process that you're currently going by your new name, to avoid email accounts or other things being created based on your official name.
For further reading and things to consider before going through with your name change you should have a look at these questions:
- How do I handle my last name changing after marriage?
- Risks in future career opportunities because of a legal name change
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
suggest improvements |Â
up vote
6
down vote
up vote
6
down vote
Will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself
No, unless you end up in a crazy company changing your name like this is perfectly normal. You're not even changing your last name entirely but merely expanding it to a double name, which is something that married women already do routinely.
In the US there is no need for your legally registered name to match the name you commonly go by, whether that's a first or last name. Name change laws vary by state but in general your assumed name can sometimes be considered a legally assumed name even without following the necessary paperwork for an "official" name change. Note that a pseudonym that has no relation to your family generally doesn't have this benefit.
All hiring paperwork should probably list your official name associated with your SSN to avoid payroll or benefits issues. You should also make sure that your resume and online profiles make a reference to your previous name. You'll want to make sure that you make it exceedingly clear in the hiring process that you're currently going by your new name, to avoid email accounts or other things being created based on your official name.
For further reading and things to consider before going through with your name change you should have a look at these questions:
- How do I handle my last name changing after marriage?
- Risks in future career opportunities because of a legal name change
Will there be any issues in my application or in the job itself
No, unless you end up in a crazy company changing your name like this is perfectly normal. You're not even changing your last name entirely but merely expanding it to a double name, which is something that married women already do routinely.
In the US there is no need for your legally registered name to match the name you commonly go by, whether that's a first or last name. Name change laws vary by state but in general your assumed name can sometimes be considered a legally assumed name even without following the necessary paperwork for an "official" name change. Note that a pseudonym that has no relation to your family generally doesn't have this benefit.
All hiring paperwork should probably list your official name associated with your SSN to avoid payroll or benefits issues. You should also make sure that your resume and online profiles make a reference to your previous name. You'll want to make sure that you make it exceedingly clear in the hiring process that you're currently going by your new name, to avoid email accounts or other things being created based on your official name.
For further reading and things to consider before going through with your name change you should have a look at these questions:
- How do I handle my last name changing after marriage?
- Risks in future career opportunities because of a legal name change
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
1
answered Jun 2 '16 at 8:26


Lilienthal♦
53.9k36183218
53.9k36183218
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
suggest improvements |Â
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
1
1
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
color me impressed by your knowledge of US law.
– Richard U
Jun 2 '16 at 16:31
suggest improvements |Â
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you could always ask for a name change to include your mothers maiden name at your government. Or use a "Call" name instead of your first name
– Raoul Mensink
Jun 2 '16 at 7:30
1
@RaoulMensink Asking the government to legally change your name is probably troublesome to say the least. And to do it at all you may need special circumstances depending on the jurisdiction.
– Brandin
Jun 2 '16 at 13:00
You could also use your middle name for company communication to help differentiate if your middle name is something you're comfortable with. One of my friends did that because he had at least four other people in high school with his same name.
– MK2000
Jun 2 '16 at 20:08
1
@Brandin - most governments have a mechanism for official name changes that cost a bit, but this is far from "troublesome". After all, a significant number of people legally change their names after getting married.
– HorusKol
Jun 3 '16 at 0:14
@HorusKol Yes, but OP is not getting married. So it will not be so easy in this case. Depending on the jurisdiction the name change may not even be allowed for the reason being proposed here.
– Brandin
Jun 3 '16 at 7:14