Anyone else have four names?

Speaking as someone who worked in a medical profession for several years, the more names you have the more complications arise. Even just hyphenated names often times caused huge issues. If your name is not entered the exact same way in every system, part of your important medical history may be omitted. It also causes duplicate accounts for the same person, meaning part of your medical history could be in one account, and part of it in another (with two middle names, it opens you up to the possibility of a third account as well). Having your medical history divided up can be very dangerous. I am sure confusions and complications could arise in pretty much any scenario you fill out paperwork with that many names, but when it comes to your health, I would recommend not using both middle names. Same with your drivers license. Many times hospitals ask you for your license and work off it.

View Quoted Comment Okay this is convincing me to just drop the more complicated name and just keep it on social media maybe. Do complications arise when people change their name in general? I had never thought about the medical records part of name changes

I have two middle names - one after my great grandmother and one is my mom's maiden name that she gave to me because she was an only child and her last name would not be passed on when she got married so she wanted to honor her father that way. At times people often get confused when they find out that I have two middle names. When getting my license the people tend to get confused when they look at my license because it listens two different middle names. When filling out paperwork there's usually only one spot for one middle initial. If it were up to me I would not have two middle names.

View Quoted Comment I hear ya! I had contemplated doing the same thing, until I saw how dangerous it can be when it comes to medical records. Unfortunately, even just changing your last name after marriage can cause issues if it’s not done correctly or only done at some facilities and not others. Example: if you change your name at your family practice doctor but not at your gynecologist. If you plan to change your last name after your wedding, I would highly suggest sitting down and making a list of EVERYTHING in your name (all doctors/clinics/hospitals, all banks, credit cards, insurance policies, social security, post office, etc.) to ensure you change every one of them over. Unfortunately, that means you will likely need to visit each place and show them your photo ID with your new name. And before you leave, make sure you double-check all receipts/documents to ensure they have changed your name correctly!

View Quoted Comment Yes! I have seen the second middle name used as a last name or the first of a hyphenated last name SO many times.

I had 4 names. First name, two middle names and my last name. I jumped at the opportunity to drop the middle names when I got married and changed my last name.
I personally hated it. I never knew when to include the names in paperwork or when it was ok to keep them off. My passport didn’t have them, my social security card had the second name cut off. My drivers license sometimes had it, sometimes didn’t depending on the state.
And my first name is unusual (Anais) so a lot of doctor offices would call me by one of my names (Nicole) all the time and it was a pain. That might not become an issue for you, but personally I’m so glad I changed my name and now have no middle names

I changed my last name to my husband's name and kept my maiden name as a second middle name. It was really easy to change things and I haven't had any issues having two middle names. I've never included my middle initial on any forms that say optional in the past anyways and now is no different. I like my maiden name and wanted to keep it but didn't want to have a hyphenated last name. This is way easier in my opinion.

My last name is hyphenated and, to be honest, after almost two years I HATE it and wish that I had just kept it how it was. Because I still think of myself as Tara W. I introduce myself at the doctor's as Tara W. my name at work is Tara W.... etc. etc. But then socially I go by Tara K. Because Tara W-K is just too dang long. I could have still gone by Tara K. socially while keeping my legal name Tara W.

That’s exactly what I did. Not complicated at all! Most paperwork only asks for 1 middle name so I just give my first middle name. There are a few things that require your full name and then I just write both. No big deal!

View Quoted Comment That's what my mother did, she goes by my father's name socially but didn't want to have to change her name for work and especially change all her licensure docs

I hyphenated my last name and kept my middle name. So I have four names. First Middle Maiden-Married.

I have four names: first, #1 middle name, #2 middle name and then last name. I will be changing my current last name to be my upcoming married last name.

I just changed my name to 4 names (my middle is my original middle name and now maiden name). I didn't want to hyphenate nor did I want to completely get rid of my maiden name. I don't think it'll be an issue. Just write both middle names in the middle name boxes when necessary. I'm assuming most times you'll just write first and last name.. doesn't seem that complicated but I guess I'll find out!

This just seems way too complicate and a headache that will be harder to correct than to do what you want in the beginning. I've never used my middle name for anything, yes they ask for the initial i don't sign my name with it. I don't even sign my first name formally, I sign with my First Initial and Last name. I can't imagine signing four names, when you sign your name do you add your middle name? I would think hard before making this formal, I'm changing my last name only.

This is such a helpful thread. I have a lot of health issues so I see a lot of doctors. I want my FH’s last name. But I definitely don’t want it to be complicated!

I planned to have four names the way you described first name, middle_maiden, new last name, but it ended up not being possible to do that without going to court in my state (MA, but I know the same thing is also true in a few other states) and I didn't want to deal with that. I ended up having four names but I have two last names (not hyphenated) instead of two middles. Because of covid, I don't have a ton of experience seeing how other people will interact with my new name, but I think it will be slightly easier this way than with two middles.
I think my name is more likely to get mixed up in social situations, than medical/legal ones (I will note that Google and Microsoft autofill refuse to acknowledge my two part last name, but I think that's going to be the most annoying part of this.)
I should still be alphabetized by my original last name, so anywhere that matters, if I did have a second set of files they'd be right next to the the old ones, so I feel like that would make it obvious and easy to fix.

I did this exact thing and added my maiden name as a second middle name. I’m currently still in the process of changing all my stuff legally (but social security is done which is the first step). I highly recommend using the HitchSwitch service. I paid $60 for their mid level package and they sent me pre-filled paperwork and a package with ALL the step by step details to change my name. They even helped me avoid needing a court order in my state for adding a second middle name.

View Quoted Comment This is what I'm doing or at least in theory. It's a lot harder than I'd thought to not just automatically introduce myself as my maiden name. And everyone I interact with anyway already knew me by my maiden name so I don't have much opportunity to "try out" my husband's name lol

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How has it been, may I ask you? I'm awaiting the judge's decision on my request to change my name and it will consist now of four names.

I'm nervous and worried, now, reading this series of comments! I hope it's gone well for you!

Thank you!

View Quoted Comment It actually isn't bad! I usually only use my first and last name on things so it doesn't really matter. All 4 names are on my ID and passport but even with that flights only require first & last. It isn't complicated if you use 2. But you have the peace of mind knowing it's still your name.