Migrants drop given names for Western version

Entries in the register of those who have changed their name formally by deeds poll in the last year show many have adopted first names similar to their birth names but in forms more familiar in Ireland.

Among the changes are Ewa to Eva, Andrzej to Andrew, Elzbieta to Elizabeth, Aleksandra to Alexandra, Jevgenijs to Eugene, Krzysztof to Kris, Ewelina to Evelyn, Wlodzimierz to Walter, Grzegorz to Greg, Wieslaw to Wesley, Aleh to Alex, and Nikita to Nicholas.

Some have given up any version of their birth name, switching from the likes of Aduragbemi to Ben, Sipho to Sidney, Shakti to Angie, Savelii to Edward, YanRong to Mandy, Yao to Michelle, Ka Yan to Jessica, and Rattanaporn to Alisa.

Surnames have changed too, with many men and couples among those making a leap to a new identity with swops such as Gosk to Walsh, Hokszova to Williams, Mohammed to Richards, Przybysz to Comer, Abdullahi to Smith, Massoune to Finucane, Omotoso to Lewis, Lebedev to Fortune, El Masri to Gorman, Li to Devlin, and Chalikonda to Chase.

The trend evokes the past when Irish emigrants to England and the US often adopted — or were given — an anglicised version of their name to ease understanding.

Jennifer DeWan of Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, said the trend showed inward migration was now a permanent feature of modern Irish life.

“You can look at it as a sign that people who have come here, have decided to settle here and to live their lives here and to become Irish so to speak, so in that sense it’s positive,” said Ms DeWan. “Or maybe that’s reading too much into it and they’re just sick of people mispronouncing their name.

“But then there is a kind of sense of loss there as well because people are maybe losing a little bit of their culture and language.”

Ms DeWan, whose own Kerry-rooted family name got changed from Duane when her ancestors emigrated to the US, said her only concern was some people might feel they have to change their name to fit in.

“We do hear stories of people who try looking for accomodation or some other service and as soon as someone hears their accent, they’re out of luck,” she said.

“Maybe that happens with names as well... Maybe people feel they get treated differently as a result.”

The register, which went online for the first time last year, also shows quite a few people changing from male names to female and vice versa. Swaps include Emma to Gregory, Nicole to Raymond, Mitchell to Michelle, Aisling to Alexander, Karen to Kyle, John to Joanne, and Jonathan to Chelsea.

Other changes reflect a desire to go as Gaeilge.

Some others may have changed for the sake change itself, as one Edelweiss became Niamh, a Happiness became Nagel, and a James Foley became Barcelona Cruz.

Any EU national who wants to change their name can do so free of charge by creating a deed poll document and having their signature witnessed. That document, along with an original birth cert, may be sufficient for many official transactions but the Passport Office requires proof — through utility bills for example —that the new name has been in use for at least two years.

People who change their name on marriage need only produce their marriage cert to certify the change. Non-EU nationals, however, require permission from the Department of Justice first before changing name.

For anyone who wants to enter their new name in the public deeds poll register, there is a fee of €60.

DISCOVER MORE CONTENT LIKE THIS