Hi,
So I have lived in Spain now for almost 10 years and I will be applying for citizenship soon. As part of this process I can pretty much chose my Spanish name. Or I can keep my polish name.
The problem is that my name is very polish, like Grzegorz Filipowski. Every time someone has to write it down and look me up in a database I have to show them my ID. When it happens over the phone I have to spell it. Every time I meet someone they ask me what’s my name is and then repeatedly try to pronounce it while I say ‘yeah… close enough’. It’s pretty annoying and it would be solved by simply changing my name to something Spanish like Gregorio González or something.
What do you think? Would you see it as a practical thing to do or as a stupid intent at impersonating a real Spaniard?
How about using your Polish nickname (surely you have one?)? This would likely be easier to spell for the average Spaniard, while staying closer to your identity than going full “Gregorio González”.
I can use nicknames with friends but when someone has to write it down it’s usually a legal matter (like talking to some official or bank) and they need my real name. And they need first and last name.
I meant using your polish nickname as your official Spanish name.
Yes, I could kind of do it for first name but I would still have to change my last name. When for example I call customer support and they ask me how to refer to me I just tell them something like ‘Greg’, something they can pronounce. But more often the need my actual name.