Ceremonial Names/Name Changing

[LadyOfTheTrees]

Do people ever, or if they do, is it typical for one to change their name after committing to Druidry? Do people often have a secret alias that only they or their grove know about? And/or, do people change their names permanently? How common is this?

Oh, and a side note...

I'm really enjoying the course so far. I started using DruidSpace but I don't have any message boards on there to meet friends. So anyway, check out my profile (I have LOTS of pictures) and send me a friend invitation if you'd like to chat back and forth

Here's the link: http://druidspace.ning.com/profile/NatalieDianneDavis

Thanks for any opinions or knowledge

[Lily]

Some people will choose a name by which they want to be known in the pagan community, which they use openly.

Some people will choose or ask to receive an inner name, which they tell only few people, e.g. in their grove (or coven, if wiccan) - or no one.

[Corwen]

I have known a few people change their name legally to reflect some inner transformation. I changed mine at Stonehenge the first year the Druids were allowed back in and it was a powerful experience. Eventually my magical name became my legal name. It can be hard though to go the whole hog and get your friends and relations to adopt a new name for you- but then I think it is also strange to use two names and have some people know you by one and some people as another. It is always a bit odd when you find out someones 'real' name when you've known them by another, so personally I like to just use one.

[wyeuro]

i changed my name legally after becoming a druid, and had a naming ceremony with several obodies including a druid officiating. i wanted to remove the undue emphasis on one paternal lineage only (though i'm still proud of it - along with all the others), and also celebrate my new-found freedom of spirit. that was about twelve years ago and i've never regretted it. some people have been hostile and demanded to know my 'real name'. i still don't know how to deal with them - just smile and shake my head.

[fulbert-avebury]

i changed my name legally after becoming a druid, and had a naming ceremony with several obodies including a druid officiating. i wanted to remove the undue emphasis on one paternal lineage only (though i'm still proud of it - along with all the others), and also celebrate my new-found freedom of spirit. that was about twelve years ago and i've never regretted it. some people have been hostile and demanded to know my 'real name'. i still don't know how to deal with them - just smile and shake my head.

That is nicely stated, "new-found freedom of spirit." Helpful way to look at this experience.
Jeffrey

[Badger Bob]

I adopted the name Robert ap Broch (no relation to Corwen!) as an aknowledgement of my childhood nickname and my Welsh ancestry in the mid 90s after about a decade of exploring Druidry. It was a bit of a turning point for me in that it marked the end of the beginning, I had found something I was comfortable with and came out of the broom-closet as it were. Nowadays most people know me as either Brock or Badger, depending on how close friends they are and so it has passed from a magical name into my everyday name. I also have another name that is kept within my grove and the small circle of people with whom I have shared ritual, this name I got from a chance meeting with a complete stranger at a local stone circle and coincidences that followed the meeting. I shall keep this name in secret until fate gives me a new one.

[kytty]

Hi,
In response to your question: kytty is a corruption of kitty which is an abbreviation the Irish use for K/Catherine, Caitlin, and K/Cathleen. Catherine & Cathleen are prominent female names in both sides of my family and Catherine was one of my four given names, I thought it appropriate. I also use Tink from time to time, which again alludes to my ancestry or any of my four given names for that matter. I also interchange surnames from birth, ancestral and married names depending where I am and who I am with.
All my family and my closest friends know all the names I fly under, not all accept them. Some think I am sightly schizophrenic (which could be possibly true ha). Most will pick one and stick with that or have one they use in private and one in public. The choice is theirs. I answer to all.
The only one who truly gets it is my father. But then again for as long as i can remember he has called me Sam, Whimpy, or Daught none of which are my real names.
I have often thought of formalizing a name change, the problem being so many know me by so many differing names it would be hard to choose one.
kytty

[Corwen]

I adopted the name Robert ap Broch (no relation to Corwen!) as an aknowledgement of my childhood nickname and my Welsh ancestry in the mid 90s after about a decade of exploring Druidry. It was a bit of a turning point for me in that it marked the end of the beginning, I had found something I was comfortable with and came out of the broom-closet as it were. Nowadays most people know me as either Brock or Badger, depending on how close friends they are and so it has passed from a magical name into my everyday name. I also have another name that is kept within my grove and the small circle of people with whom I have shared ritual, this name I got from a chance meeting with a complete stranger at a local stone circle and coincidences that followed the meeting. I shall keep this name in secret until fate gives me a new one.

Freaky, from now on I'll call you bro