A recently released analysis of data on transgender name changes in the U.K. reveals “intriguing trends and patterns” in how trans people approach the “deeply personal process,” according to the U.K. Deed Poll Office.
In the U.K., a deed poll is a legal document that proves a change of name. While the U.K. Deed Poll Office is not a government agency, the privately owned document provider has, according to its website, helped more than 136,000 U.K. citizens change their names for a fee in its eight years in business.
Related:
According to the office, whether or not to maintain a connection to their deadname is a top consideration for trans people seeking a name change. But their data showed that a majority of trans individuals do not choose a name beginning with the same first letter as their deadname. Of the over 1,500 trans name change applications the office looked at, 69.72% (1,057 people) chose a name that begins with a different letter than their deadname, while 30.28% (459 people) kept the first letter of the name they were given at birth.
Global perspectives delivered right to your inbox
Our newsletter bridges borders to bring you LGBTQ+ news from around the world.
While it didn’t provide additional information to back this up, the U.K. Deed Poll Office speculated that choosing a name beginning with the same letter as their deadname may indicate “a desire to retain some continuity with their past identity” among trans people.
The office also found that the vast majority of applicants — 1,260 of 1,558, or nearly 81 percent — also opted to change their middle name. The trend, it said, reflects “the significance individuals attach to their middle names, with many seeking a fresh start or a name that better aligns with their gender identity.”
The office also looked at the age at which trans people applied for a deed poll to change their names. More people chose to change their names at the age of 18 (15.28%) than at any other age, though their data showed that trans people may choose to change their name at any point in their life. Of the 1,558 applications the office included in its analysis, 140 (8.99%) were from people who were 16.
The analysis also revealed the top 10 names chosen by both transgender men and women.
Noah, Alex, Charlie, Elliot, Daniel, Tyler, Jay, Luke, Lucas, and Logan were most common with trans men among the 1,371 applications included in the analysis. Among trans women, Jessica, Emily, Charlotte, Alice, Willow, Luna, Lucy, Freya, Ellie, and Alex were most common.
“These names often reflect cultural influences, personal heroes, or simply names that resonate deeply with the individual’s sense of self,” according to the U.K. Deed Poll Office—though, again, the office did not provide information to back up this claim.
“By understanding these statistics, we can better appreciate the diverse experiences and choices of the transgender community,” the U.K. Deed Poll Office said, adding that it is “committed to supporting individuals through every step of their name change journey with empathy and respect.”
Don’t forget to share:
Good News is your section for queer joy! Subscribe to our newsletter to get the most positive and fun stories from the site delivered to your inbox every weekend. Send us your suggestions for uplifiting and inspiring stories.
