AITA For Secretly Changing My Name From Pennsylvania To Penelope

A young woman's secret name change sparks family turmoil as her wedding approaches.

Davy

• Published in Interesting
• May 15, 2024

At the age of 21, after years of discomfort and teasing associated with her birth name, Pennsylvania, a young woman took the decisive step of legally changing her name to Penelope. Believing the name better suited her and provided relief from her childhood embarrassment, she kept this change a secret from her fervently patriotic parents, who had originally named her to reflect their deep love for America.

As her wedding day approached, the need to disclose her true legal name became unavoidable, leading to a dramatic confrontation with her parents. Feeling betrayed, they accused her of disrespecting their choices and even threatened to skip her wedding ceremony.

I was called Pennsylvania at birth.

How ridiculous my parents are.

My parents insistence on my full name.

I kept it a secret from my parents and close family

You have to say your full name

They said that I was disrespectful,

Most people I know agree with them.

Parents think I am the AH for keeping this a secret. AITA?

Now that we've shared Penelope's story of changing her name and the fallout with her family, we'll take a look at how other people have reacted to her situation. Their insights might shed further light on whether keeping such a secret was justified or if transparency should have been a priority.

NTA

13 years....

Congratulations on losing a daughter and a son-in-law!

The name is so ridiculous

All relatively normal names!

Time for the parents to grow up.

It's probably best to come from you.

It was about CONTROL.

Penelope is a beautiful name, easily recognized, and not at all common. NTA

No matter how it affected you,

NTA

You are an adult.

They should apologize

Penelope's story poses a dilemma about personal identity versus family expectations and the consequences of keeping significant secrets. What do you think about Penelope's decision to change her name and keep it hidden for years?

Was she right to prioritize her own comfort over her parents' wishes, or should she have been upfront with her family from the beginning? We invite you to share your thoughts and what actions you might take if faced with a similar situation.

Davy