Should I change my name?
Should I change my name?
Hi,
So I have lived in Spain now for almost 10 years and I will be applying for citizenship soon. As part of this process I can pretty much chose my Spanish name. Or I can keep my polish name.
The problem is that my name is very polish, like Grzegorz Filipowski. Every time someone has to write it down and look me up in a database I have to show them my ID. When it happens over the phone I have to spell it. Every time I meet someone they ask me what's my name is and then repeatedly try to pronounce it while I say 'yeah... close enough'. It's pretty annoying and it would be solved by simply changing my name to something Spanish like Gregorio González or something.
What do you think? Would you see it as a practical thing to do or as a stupid intent at impersonating a real Spaniard?
You're viewing a single thread.
How about using your Polish nickname (surely you have one?)? This would likely be easier to spell for the average Spaniard, while staying closer to your identity than going full "Gregorio González".
I can use nicknames with friends but when someone has to write it down it's usually a legal matter (like talking to some official or bank) and they need my real name. And they need first and last name.
How often does that realistically happen to you, such as to make it impractical to show an ID? Seems like a non-issue to me
Constantly. Every doctor appointment, every hotel visit, every time I'm renting a car/apartment, every bank visit, every time I'm dealing with the government, every time I'm calling customer support... Normally they ask you your name, fill in the form, take a quick look at your ID and that's it. In my case when they ask for my name I have to give them my ID and they copy my name/last name letter by letter, often with errors.
Ok, all those things combined happen maybe once a month in my life, tops. At least for me that wouldn't be worth it.
But it doesn't cost me anything so why wouldn't it be worth it? I mean, whats the downside in your opinion?
I mean. Firstly and most importantly, it's a huge hassle to change all your existing legal stuff, documents, cards, etc. Just ask anyone's wife. I'd assume even if the legal stuff is managed by the state the rest is also quite a hassle unless Spain has a vastly more efficient system than we do. Secondly, my parents would be quite sad (and I would also be a little weirded out).
The thing is that as a resident I don't have any Spanish ID with picture. I was using my polish national ID but it expired so now I'm just using my passport but it will also expire in a couple of years. When it expires I will have to change my data everywhere where it matters (pretty much banks) so I will have to submit my new ID anyway. People's wives have change everything pretty much because they change their ID and I'm getting new ID anyway.
Fan fact: women in Spain don't change their last names when they get married. Kids here get two last one: first last name of their father and first last name of their mother. So for example husband will be Pedro Gonzales Rodriguez, wife will be Maria Garcia Rubio and their kids will be Gonzales Garcia.
My parents wouldn't care.
When it expires I will have to change my data everywhere
Ok, that's different from our system then. We have to change our legal documents, bank details, cards, relevant contracts etc. in case of a name change but not in case of an ID card change (not even if the original ID was from another EU country, I don't think). I only know from my wife that changing those documents was a huge hassle.
Well in that case I can see no reason not to do it apart from sentimental ones which you don't seem to share. So why not if you feel like it.
I meant using your polish nickname as your official Spanish name.
Yes, I could kind of do it for first name but I would still have to change my last name. When for example I call customer support and they ask me how to refer to me I just tell them something like 'Greg', something they can pronounce. But more often the need my actual name.