African Name Sites

Name, Culture and Identity
What Good is in a Name?
Behind the Name: African Names
African Baby Names & African Names
20000-NAMES.COM
Swagga African Names
Names and Origins

Akan Naming Ceremony
Akan Baby-naming Ceremony, Akan Priestess Yaa Nson Opare
Birth and Naming of a Child (Akan Emphasis)
Edo Naming Ceremony
Igbo Naming Ceremony
Yoruba Naming Ceremony

 

How to Change your Name with or without a Lawyer or Lengthy Court Proceeding
Changing your name legally is pretty easy, if you are so inclined. You just have to find out which process works best in your area. Here are some guidelines if you are changing your name for religious/spiritual purposes.

Easy route.

(1) Get a notarized statement (from a clergy/priest) confirming your new spiritual name
(2) Fill out Form SS-5 (Application for a New Social Security Car)
(3) Find your Birth Certificate
(4) Take all three items to local Social Security Office
(4) You will be issued a new social security card (with the old number).
(5) Inform your employer and all creditors of your name change.

 

Hard route. (But more thorough)

(1) Go to your local courts and get a Petition for Name Change
(2) You will be issued a court date
(3) you will swear that you are not avoiding a legal obligation
(4) Your petition will be approved & you pay a fee
(4) You take paperwork to Social Security Office
(5) You apply for your new Social Security card (with the old number).
(6) Inform your employer and all creditors of your name change.

 

Detailed article on how to change your name without a lawyer.

Determine if your State has other laws governing name changes.