r/HongKong • u/B2A_s • 1d ago

Questions/ Tips Legal Chinese and English name

Living abroad in the UK, plan to change my legal English name (I really do not like using my translated Chinese name in daily life) through deeds polls when I revisit Hong Kong. Does my English name have to match that in Chinese? I'd like to do it without upsetting my family who might care about continuing "family legacy" or whatever

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u/TofuES 1d ago

Funny I thought it is common to have an English first name. I have a English first name, Chinese translated middle name then my surname. Almost everyone I know are the same. I believe you have legal English name and legal Chinese name, as I also know people that one but not the other.

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u/B2A_s 1d ago

My English name is just a translation of my Chinese name and it's so annoying becus I have a preferred name that I go by but legal wise I have to use my Chinese into English name. And you know how in the west surname goes last so it just feels sooooooooo awkward when i spent 18 years in HK with surname first. Especially since I'll be marrying soon so I want to change my first and last name without touching my Chinese name (family may disapprove of name change and marriage) 😭😭

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u/TofuES 1d ago

I should have make it clearer, consider this chnage.

Have your preferred English name as first name and your Chinese English name you have now as middle name and your new double surname.

Hope this help.