How can I change my Jewish last name without totally insulting my family?
My family is Jewish and they bestowed on me a hideous horrible sounding ethnic last name. I despise it. I find that people automatically judge me and know I'm Jewish as soon as they hear my last name, and I'd prefer that people just don't know unless I choose to tell them myself. I would change it in a second, but I am still going to school and dependent on my over-protective family for support. I want to change this terrible ethnic sounding name. I know they will be very upset if I even bring this up though. What is the best way to go about changing it without marrying at a very young age?
I don't want to convert to any other religion people, I'm just talking about my last name here
Well, why would you change your name to please the prejudiced anyway?
My last name is French and nearly impossible to pronounce for people who speak English as a native tongue without considerable coaching, and yet I don't have the slightest intention to change it.
if you're ashamed of being Jewish why not just be upfront with your family and let them know that you're ashamed about being Jewish? or are you ashamed about being ashamed about being Jewish? there's a psychiatrist joke in there somewhere, I'm sure about it.
Just put an Mc or a Mac in front of it and maybe everyone will think you are Irish or Scottish, or you could even try putting son on the end of your name which might lead every to believe that you are of Nordic decent. I know that I would buy it if someone introduced their self to me as Golda Goldbergson. in fact that has a really nice ring to it.
All kidding aside you should be proud of who you are and of the name that your parents have given you.
Are you ashamed of being Jewish? Sounds like you're trying to escape from your Jewish identity. Why would you want to be around people who would 'automatically' judge you by your name and not by who you are. A name, whether it's too ethnic sounding should have no bearing on whether or not people are going to like you, or dislike you. You can have the most beautiful sounding non-Jewish last name, and there are still going to be people who still won,t like you. I truthfully never heard of any one, with the exception of people in show business, or people who feel that it benefits them in business, to not have an ethnic sounding name, and to change it, which I find disgraceful. What guarantee is there that if you met 'Mr. Right' that he would,NT have a horrible sounding last name, or for that matter, a lousy sounding first name? Would you not marry this person? If you were proud to be Jewish, your last name would,NT be an issue, not at all. I think that you have self esteem issues. I know for sure that you will disagree with everything that I,vie written, because it is,NT what you want to hear, but my getting 2 points or 10 does,NT matter to me either way. You always have to be proud of who you are.
It sounds as if you feel bad about being Jewish, and find it difficult to cope with anti-Jewish sentiment. I'm sorry it's like that for you. The best thing would be to find more support from the Jewish community (people of your own age) so you can feel good about who you are.
Failing that, I don't know where you are, but in the UK it's a relatively simple matter to change your name by deed poll.
There will be a history to your name. Why not find out more and feel some pride in your heritage?
I can not see how family would be offended if this would benefit your career. There are many doctors and lawyers who change theirs because of perceived antisemitism that might arise in the professional arena.
I'm thinking of one who had the last name Greenstein and shortened it to Green. Perhaps you can do something similar, keeping the root or part of your birth name.
How can I change my Jewish last name without totally insulting my family?
