Start using my Irish surname

WeHaveToGoBack

I was just wondering, is it possible for me to start using my Irish surname instead of my English one without actually changing my name?

So if my name was O'Donnell, could I just start writing my name as O'Donaíl (or whatever the spelling is )?

And could I basically interchange this with the English version. Say for example, apply for a job using the Irish version, but have all my qualifications in English?

rustedtrumpet

No, sorry about that.

Nemeses

Couldn't see why not - Its just a translation right?

Peregrinus

WeHaveToGoBack wrote: »

I was just wondering, is it possible for me to start using my Irish surname instead of my English one without actually changing my name?

So if my name was O'Donnell, could I just start writing my name as O'Donaíl (or whatever the spelling is )?

And could I basically interchange this with the English version. Say for example, apply for a job using the Irish version, but have all my qualifications in English?

Yes, you can start using the Irish version of your name whenever you like. And there is no rule that says you have to use one or other consistently. At one point when I had two bank accounts, I kept one in the English version of my name and one in the Irish version - it made it easy to tell the chequebooks apart. Therwe was never any problem. The bank knew that both accounts belonged to the one persion.

You can certainly apply for a job under one version of your name while submitting certificates, etc, in another. Be prepared to explain yourself if people query this, but you will rarely face significant problems.

Things get more difficult, however, if you are operarting outside Ireland. In quite a few countries they have a quaint notion that a name is fixed by law, that a person can only have one name at any time, and that they must go through an official bureacratic procedure to change it. We have no such hangups in Ireland, but when operating abroad you may have to accommodate yourself to the primitive expectations of the natives.

Iwasfrozen

WeHaveToGoBack wrote: »

I was just wondering, is it possible for me to start using my Irish surname instead of my English one without actually changing my name?

So if my name was O'Donnell, could I just start writing my name as O'Donaíl (or whatever the spelling is )?

And could I basically interchange this with the English version. Say for example, apply for a job using the Irish version, but have all my qualifications in English?

Love the username OP!

dobman88

WeHaveToGoBack wrote: »

I was just wondering, is it possible for me to start using my Irish surname instead of my English one without actually changing my name?

So if my name was O'Donnell, could I just start writing my name as O'Donaíl (or whatever the spelling is )?

And could I basically interchange this with the English version. Say for example, apply for a job using the Irish version, but have all my qualifications in English?

Why would you want to change it when you can't even spell it?????? :rolleyes:

Insect Overlord

Ó Domhnaill.

No apostrophe in the Irish spelling.

Pompey Magnus

dobman88 wrote: »

Why would you want to change it when you can't even spell it?????? :rolleyes:

He didn't say his name was O'Donnell, he was using that as an example.

dobman88

Pompey Magnus wrote: »

He didn't say his name was O'Donnell, he was using that as an example.

Didn't spot that, previous statement retracted (once he actually knows what his name is in Irish)

Sir Humphrey Appleby

You will have some trouble if you buy airline tickets under your Irish name and your passport is in your English name.
They probably wont let you on the plane!

Sprog 4

If my name doesn't have an Irish translation can I just make up an Irishy derivative of it? For example Rodriguez = Rodhraigeas

Grayson

Sprog 4 wrote: »

If my name doesn't have an Irish translation can I just make up an Irishy derivative of it? For example Rodriguez = Rodhraigeas

Why not. Whilst you're at it, you could probably get a job teaching irish in primary schools.

Sinfonia

Iwasfrozen wrote: »

Love the username OP!

Indeed, very apt! :P

_Kaiser_

I assume this is something to do with keeping your "Irish roots" alive, but I can't see why you'd bother - more likely to cause confusion and hassle I reckon, and for what?

Might as well just call yourself Max Power! That's cooler and at least people will be able to recognize/pronounce it unlike a lot of Irish-ised names.

SEPT 23 1989

This actually annoys me especially when used by people in Rte

Peregrinus

Sprog 4 wrote: »

If my name doesn't have an Irish translation can I just make up an Irishy derivative of it? For example Rodriguez = Rodhraigeas

Yes. All you're doing is changing the spelling of your name, by following Irish orthographic conventions rather than British ones. And of course you are free to spell your name however you like.

Míshásta

You should just use one version of your name whether English or Irish for all official purposes or you'll get into all kinds of hassle when dealing with officialdom especially abroad.

Use the Irish version socially by all means. Try opening an on-line bank account with confirmation documents using names in different languages. Or imagine applying for a Russian Visa - a daunting experience at the best of times.

I've has problems while abroad with just two versions of my name in English - my name on my birth cert. and the abbreviated form that I'm known by.

If you're really committed to using the Irish form of your name for official then have the name on all your official certs translated as well. But it's an awful hassle.

Beir Bua.

salacious crumb

You can have your name changed on your passport or driver's license without legally changing it if you can prove that you've been using that version for over two years, ie. utility bills, P60s etc....

oldyouth

Sprog 4 wrote: »

If my name doesn't have an Irish translation can I just make up an Irishy derivative of it? For example Rodriguez = Rodhraigeas

It's what every Irish teacher did to me when I went to school :mad:

everdead.ie

Míshásta wrote: »

You should just use one version of your name whether English or Irish for all official purposes or you'll get into all kinds of hassle when dealing with officialdom especially abroad.

Use the Irish version socially by all means. Try opening an on-line bank account with confirmation documents using names in different languages. Or imagine applying for a Russian Visa - a daunting experience at the best of times.

I've has problems while abroad with just two versions of my name in English - my name on my birth cert. and the abbreviated form that I'm known by.

If you're really committed to using the Irish form of your name for official then have the name on all your official certs translated as well. But it's an awful hassle.

Beir Bua.

I'd have to agree with this all my official details are in my English name but I use my Irish name in every day life because I went to a GaelScoil and I learned how to write my name in Irish before I could write it in English.

keith16

Sprog 4 wrote: »

If my name doesn't have an Irish translation can I just make up an Irishy derivative of it? For example Rodriguez = Rodhraigeas

Rodriguez as gaeilge? Ó Rodrigéis-olaíocht.

The Backwards Man

My name is the same in Irish as it is in English.

eireannBEAR

This is more of a female trend,but i think more men should do it,although my surname has no irish translation but it originates from de Burg...as much as i would like my last name to be de Burg,i just couldnt use it with a straight face.

Peregrinus

The Backwards Man wrote: »

My name is the same in Irish as it is in English.

How confusing!;)

Miss Mayhem

An Irish teacher I had in Secondary school used force use to use our Irish names in class. Sometimes I'd forget what it was and she'd be screaming out my Irish name and I'd be looking around the room to see who she was talking to, not realising it was me. Came in handy eventually though - I use my Irish name on social networking sites just for more privacy. I sort of like my Irish first name better than my English one.

MonkstownHoop

Miss Mayhem wrote: »

An Irish teacher I had in Secondary school used force use to use our Irish names in class. Sometimes I'd forget what it was and she'd be screaming out my Irish name and I'd be looking around the room to see who she was talking to, not realising it was me. Came in handy eventually though - I use my Irish name on social networking sites just for more privacy. I sort of like my Irish first name better than my English one.

Had a teacher like that too, but google translate says my name is the same in irish and english and we know google is never wrong :pac:

Amirani

eireannBEAR wrote: »

This is more of a female trend,but i think more men should do it,

Is it?

Iwasfrozen

NiallSparky wrote: »

Is it?

I agree with him it seems to be. Don't know why though.

Miss Mayhem

I know they can translate it if they want but my Irish name translates into half a dozen English names making it hard for people to figure out just what my first name really is. Plus I love how it confuses the hell out of the Americans!

xgwishyx

My parents spelled my first name wrong on my birthcert so I run into issues with official documents all the time anyway, so I changed to the Irish surname earlier this year with no issues! As a result depending on where you're looking (work, banks, rental agreements, social media) I could be using any of four 'different' names.

WeHaveToGoBack

Miss Mayhem wrote: »

An Irish teacher I had in Secondary school used force use to use our Irish names in class. Sometimes I'd forget what it was and she'd be screaming out my Irish name and I'd be looking around the room to see who she was talking to, not realising it was me. Came in handy eventually though - I use my Irish name on social networking sites just for more privacy. I sort of like my Irish first name better than my English one.

thats basically why I want to use my Irish surname, so to have different names online to real life, though I don't think Id bother changing bank accounts or whatever.

eireannBEAR

NiallSparky wrote: »

Is it?

Yes...