Earlier postings in this series have discussed naming practices, but all
of them carried the implicit assumption that a name was fixed for all
time. This turns out, in fact, to not be the case. Names can be changed
for a number of reasons, sometimes by the person being renamed,
sometimes by others, sometimes posthumously.

There is a trope in speculative fiction where, if the "focus society" is
meant to resonate with such Terrestrial cultures as the Native American
tribes, a child entering puberty - or attaining some other significant
age where he transitions from being a child to being a responsible adult
of the society - goes on what might or might not be called a "vision
quest", and upon its completion, gives him/herself a new name, by which
he/she is henceforth exclusively known. In the Star Trek novel /Uhura's
Song/, by Janet Kagan, the Enterprise landing party finds that they need
to do this, along with a couple of the native children, to get
information and assistance from the first-contact world of Sivao, whose
natives are closely related to the inhabitants of Federation member
world Eeiauo.

Roman Catholic and Coptic popes select a "regnal name" upon being
elected to their respective papacies.

Some English monarchs, including Victoria and her successor, have used a
name other than their "real" given names as their official names during
their reigns. It is speculated that if Queen Elizabeth II allows herself
to predecease her son, he might chose a name to reign under other than
Charles III, due to certain connotations of the name Charles for
monarchs in British history. (His Royal Highness has not chosen to
comment publicly on this matter.)

Many oriental monarchs are not known by their names-in-life after their
deaths. While for most countries, this is not widely known, and for
many, it is strictly a historical phenomenon (their monarchies having
been overthrown and abolished), it is very evident among the Japanese,
where the father of the current Emperor (Akihito) is now universally (in
Japan) called Showa, the same as the era-name of his reign. (In most
Western writings, his given name of Hirohito is still used.)

Some underdeveloped cultures have been noted as avoiding the use or
mention of the name of a deceased person either permanently or for a
period of time. Living members of those societies who have the same or
similar names often change their names.

Many British nobles, and all of the titled British and Scottish heralds,
can (and some do) use their titles as though they are legal names, and
in some views, they _are_ legal names. [That is, the Duke of Normandy
(titular noble of the Channel Islands) may identify himself in
non-official contexts as "Normandy" or "de Normandy", and if he holds a
military commission, is likely known as "Colonel Normandy" (or whatever
his rank is), much as Prince William served as "Lieutenant Wales"
[although it would also have been proper - possibly more proper - for
him to be "Lieutenant Cambridge" instead, as he is the Duke of
Cambridge]. The head of the British College of Arms, the Garter
Principal King of Arms, may issue a personal cheque, not connected with
his duties as a herald, and sign it "Garter". The head of the Scottish
College of Arms, Lord Lyon King of Arms, may do the same (signing
"Lyon"). So may the lesser titled heralds in both colleges, using their
respective titles (e.g, Portcullis, Rouge Croix, Lancaster, Clarenceux,
and so on).]

In most Western cultures, it is not considered remarkable when a person
chooses to change his or her name. The most common example of this is
the taking of a spouses surname as one's own upon marriage, but it is
not considered particularly noteworthy if this option is declined.
Somewhat more unusual, but again, not particularly noteworthy, is a
legal change of name for other reasons, such as "I've always hated the
name Matilda; I want to be known as Sharon instead.". Another reason
that has occasionally been prominent in the news has been when a notable
person comes out publicly as a transsexual, such as George/Christine
Jorgensen, Walter/Wendy Carlos, or Bruce/Caitlyn Jenner. This reason is
far more common than most people believe; many transsexuals chose to
keep it to themselves. You may know more such people than you think; I
personally know at least six (who have chosen not to conceal it in
certain social settings in which I am a member, but who do not broadcast
it to the world as Ms Jenner has).

It has been previously noted that Chinese immigrants often take Western
"use names" as their legal 'given' names.

--
Jeff Zeitlin, Editor
Freelance Traveller
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