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Advice on Name Changing

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I'm a senior in high school this year, planning on going to Columbia College Chicago next year to study film editing. When you start reading the next paragraph, that might seem unnecessary, but it kinda is, so bear with me.

I was born out of wedlock (my parents never have been married), taking my mother's surname. A year or so later, my mother got married to the man who has pretty much been my father for the past 16 years (I used to see my father twice a month, until last year; I haven't spoken to him since January and haven't seen him since Christmas, and those were the only two times I'd done either since June of last year). My stepdad's last name is Italian, difficult to spell and pronounce for most, and when I was 5 my parents had my last name changed to his. I didn't know this until I got my drivers' license last year and saw that my birth certificate was issued in 1994, not 1989.

Lately, especially since I discovered that, the constant misspelling and mispronouncing of my last name has been a source of constant irritation to me. I've toyed in my head with the idea of reverting to my birth name (a very American, simple name - I'll use Smith as an example, not because it's the name, but because it's a common name as well). But lately, I've been thinking that with going into the film industry, it might be easier to go with a simpler (also one-syllable) name than my current Italian (three-syllable, with several silent letters) one.

At the same time, the reason I've not seriously considered this in the past is, if my parents wanted my name changed badly enough before I got into school that they changed it, would they be upset if I reverted to the old one when I turn 18? Does anyone have any experience with this, or advice on whether I should do this or not? It won't affect me until February, my 18th birthday, and even then I wouldn't change it until I finish high school in June (unless it would be easier to have my "new" name on my diploma), but I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Does anyone have any advice they could lend?
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A good friend & colleague of mine changed his last name back to his biological name in his 30s, right before he got married. In spite of being extremely liberal, he felt it was right to pass on his biological name. Dunno if that helps, but at least you know you're not alone.
I am fluent in over six million forms of procrastination.
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I can't advice on the laws regarding this, since I am not from the US, but change your name to whatever you feel like...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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Ultimately it is your choice, but keep in mind that changing your name might upset and hurt the feelings of your mother and step-father. It would be very easy for them to take it wrong. You might accidently open up some old wounds that might exist betwen your mother and father, and it doesn't sound like you have as close of a relationship with your father, need to be careful not to hurt your mother.
As for the difficulty to pronounce the name and going into the film industry,This might not be the best example, but, remember that they had said that Arnold Schwarzenegger was told that he would have to change his name if he ever wanted to go into acting because nobody would cast him because of the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing his name. If you are doing this for the film industry part, something you might consider doing is using your middle name if you have one as your last name. This is done sometimes, or another last name in your family.
Just my advice, that may or may not be good.
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Having a name that's difficult to pronounce or spell is no impediment to film industry success. If anything, it's the opposite. You're going to want people to remember you and people remember unusual names much more easily.

However if you want to change it, but you're worried about how your mom and stepdad would feel, I'd advise you to talk to them about it first - perhaps just your mom initially. That way you'll know how they'll feel, which will help with your ultimate decision. Okay, bringing up the subject may be a little upsetting in itself, but not nearly as bad as just doing it. And you might find that they don't object at all, which will make your life simple.
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I grew up with a surname that everyone found difficult to spell and pronounce, and worse yet was bastardized on Ellis Island arrival from a much cooler name.

I changed it when I was 20 and have never regretted it for a moment. I love my singular, quite unusual, one-syllable, easy to pronounce, spell, and remember name. I wish I'd had children to pass it onto.

Yes, my parents were a little miffed ... but my annoyance with name mangling for all my childhood came to an end ... to my everlasting happiness.