How to change my name in uni

I recently got accepted into university after my A level results day. I've always wanted to change my name, but my parents for some reason were always against it due to its "religious meaning". I was bullied for it heavily as a kid and even though today I'm almost 18 and everyone has grown up, it still sticks with me. I also just never have liked it at all, so I grew up wanting to change it. I would love to change my name legally, but I don't want my family to find out at all about it because of the fights we'd get into and they would disrespect it a lot.

I was wondering if in uni, there is a way to change your name on lanyards and registers given to teachers n stuff whilst keeping my legal name in their admin and stuff? Like for example, giving yourself a display name on a videogame and changing the setting to make your username visible to only close friends or ppl you choose. I'm going to uni by myself so no one will know who I am, and I definitely won't give them my real name obviously, but it would be weird if I said for example, "hey my name is Alex" but my lanyard said my real name or the professor at the front said my real name for some reason (still don't know how uni lectures work). Any advice would be appreciated.

(Please do not try to convince me not to change my name.
This is a decision l've made for over a decade and I'm very sick of hearing it. Thank you)

Reply 1

Anonymous #1

When you register for your course, there should be an option to give a name you'd prefer to be known as. If not, you may be able to change this by going through student services. Your name is unlikely to be said out in lectures, but may be in seminars - you can just tell your seminar tutors privately that you'd prefer to be known as a different name, and introduce yourself with your preferred name. I teach in a university and plenty of students do this, although their registered name does appear on the register and in their email address. If they've given a name they'd like to be known as to student services it appears as 'Registered Name (Preferred Name)' but this may be different at each university. I just ignore what the register says and address them by their preferred name. Other students do not see the register at my university, only the member of staff leading the session.

Reply 2

De Montfort University

Official Rep

Original post by denisthemenace1

I recently got accepted into university after my A level results day. I've always wanted to change my name, but my parents for some reason were always against it due to its "religious meaning". I was bullied for it heavily as a kid and even though today I'm almost 18 and everyone has grown up, it still sticks with me. I also just never have liked it at all, so I grew up wanting to change it. I would love to change my name legally, but I don't want my family to find out at all about it because of the fights we'd get into and they would disrespect it a lot.
I was wondering if in uni, there is a way to change your name on lanyards and registers given to teachers n stuff whilst keeping my legal name in their admin and stuff? Like for example, giving yourself a display name on a videogame and changing the setting to make your username visible to only close friends or ppl you choose. I'm going to uni by myself so no one will know who I am, and I definitely won't give them my real name obviously, but it would be weird if I said for example, "hey my name is Alex" but my lanyard said my real name or the professor at the front said my real name for some reason (still don't know how uni lectures work). Any advice would be appreciated.
(Please do not try to convince me not to change my name.
This is a decision l've made for over a decade and I'm very sick of hearing it. Thank you)

Hi there,

Generally, when filling the forms you are asked about your "preferred" name. The best course of action is to get in touch with your university's admissions team or faculty advice centre. They will be able to provide you with the most appropriate way to do it.

Take care,
Ilya