You cannot change your name for illegal purposes and for many other reasons. Here’s a list of some reasons why you cannot change your name:
- For fraudulent or illegal purposes (of which there are many)
- E.g. you cannot change your name after committing a crime, in an attempt to commit a crime, to avoid debt obligations, to hide from law enforcement officials, etc.
- To take advantage of a trademark name
- E.g. you cannot call yourself Michael Jordan in the hopes of benefiting from Michael Jordan’s status.
Here’s a list of some things you cannot add to your name:
- Numbers
- Exception: you can use Roman numerals to indicate a next generation (e.g. George Foreman III)
- Racial or derogatory slurs
Here’s a list of some things you might not be able to call yourself:
- Celebrity names, e.g. James Dean
- Single words, e.g. King
- Just initials, e.g. WKR
NOTE: Minor children cannot legally change their names unless their parents or guardians give their consent through a court order.
Next, we’ll go over the legal process to change your name.