The Romans first made name changing a viable option. Under Roman law, individuals were allowed to legally change their names if and when they wanted to, as long as it was not for a fraudulent purpose. These Roman laws still hold true today.
First, you must have a legitimate reason for changing your name. Or, to be more precise, you cannot try to defraud the government by changing your name. For example, you cannot change your name in order to avoid law enforcement officials searching for you due to criminal acts, debt obligations, or any other legal issues. If you change your name to avoid any legal difficulties, you’re likely creating an illegal "alias" which is a separate crime altogether.
In general, individuals can change their names for any legitimate reason including, but not limited to:
- Desire
- To enhance a career
- Marriage
- Divorce
- Adoption
- To avoid an abusive spouse
Next, we’ll go over what you cannot legally change your name to.