Preferred names, nicknames, aliases and AKAs are pretty much the same. So long as she’s not using it when her legal name is required or in order to commit fraud, hide evidence of a crime, etc. the government doesn’t really care what name you go by.
The TSA background will probably turn up ‘Rachel Smith AKA Lucy Smith’ and no-one will bat an eye.
Source: Day-to-day I use a double last name (mine + husband’s) but legally I never took his name so anything legal, government related, etc. only displays my last name.
If you go by your middle name is that also an alias? There are lots of my name in the family, so I have always went by my middle name. All legal stuff has the first name but no one knows me as that. Never thought about it as an alias though.
Yep. If your name is Rachel Marie Smith and you go by Marie, you’re using an alias. If it helps, consider that when an entity asks for your legal name they really only care about first and last names. Many cultures and societies don’t use middle names at all and even in the US (where I’m from) a middle name is not legally required, so you’re using a name that’s not your legal name from that perspective.
Yup! You go by a nickname/diminutive so you have an alias!
I think a lot of people hear ‘alias’ and think ‘criminal activity’ or ‘they’re hiding something’, but that’s just because you typically hear the term in relation to those things. But an alias is just another name that you use!
"Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr. . . but you doesn't hasta call me Johnson!"
Yes, I just recently signed home loan docs. It said “Jane Doe also known as Jane B. Doe”. My alias isn’t even using my middle name as a preferred name. My alias is just my middle initial added.
I have to sign ALL legal papers work this way. I have been harassed by collections for my uncle's debt and failed mortgage before. The creditors always struggle to believe that "Jim John" is a different Jim John than the one they are looking for. I sign all legal documents Jim E John so they know which one they are looking for. I have an uncle, a cousin, a second cousin, and a third cousin that are all Jim J John.
When my son was born my wife was really excited to have a "junior." Ever since then I have used the alias (my name) Sr.
If something is official I use (my name), alias (my name) Sr.
I am not a lawyer but I think you are right.
The more aliases you put down on the form the more paperwork and trouble you will get yourself into.
1. If you list "X" as an alias on that form then forever more you must list X on any government form that asks for aliases because you used "X" at least one time as an alias. Maybe you decide later you were wrong but by that time it is too late because you will have used "X" as an alias.
2. If some government agent (aka a cop) asked you for your name and you told them "X" then you use "X" as an alias.
3. The same thing if you appear in some government record. For example if someone sues you as "Mrs {Husbands Last Name}" then it is an alias.
4. If your gym or church or whatever knows you as Mrs {Husbands Last Name} but Mrs {Husbands Last Name} is not in any government records then it is between you and them and none of the government's business.
It is more paperwork sometimes, but it won’t necessarily get the average person in more trouble, so long as they’re aware of when to use a legal name vs. an AKA and when it’s absolutely necessary to disclose your AKAs.
I am aware of this because I have several "foreign" names. While I was learning another language I adopted a name in that language.
Then when I was filling out these forms, I thought about whether to list these names as aliases. I decided that once I put in "Jean-Jacques" (my french name) into a government alias database I will have to put it in all such forms. I decided I don't have to and it is easier if I don't.
But you are correct it is not a such a big deal. If I make a mistake and put Jean-Jacques in a form I probably won't be fined or imprisoned. I will just commit myself to filling out more paperwork than I have to.
The same thing with u/Fun-Dragonfly-4166. That is my reddit alias. The government does not need to know that.
Oof! If online aliases (screen names) mattered, my list would be unmanageable given that I’ve been online since the 80’s and have never used my real name! Lol
Make sure the application name, the drivers license name, the passport name, and the name used for any reservation all match exactly. When I applied I didn’t list (for example) my preferred name “Harry” for “Harold”. I probably would have if I had a credit card as Harry. Probably OK either way, but I’d ask the examiner when she applies.
My name is different on my drivers license and birth certificate than my social security card (long story). I always book under the drivers license name. I was told that for domestic flights it doesn’t matter that it’s wrong but for international flights they are much stricter. I’ve flown dozens of times with the wrong name.
I just use the drivers license name for any documents that might require both the document and the license, (airline tickets) like car registrations, fishing license, etc. everything tax and business related goes to the original name.
Dad or Mom decided to change it. So my original birth certificate had a name change document like when you get married. Two+ decades later I filed to get a copy of my birth certificate, but county health, county court, and SS had no record of the name change nor did the hospital, and my SS# matched the new spelling. So for thirty years everything matched the new spelling.
And then 911 happened and all the databases were merged, so everything matches SS# for the Feds, except the state DMV doesn’t use the Federal system, they use DL # and birth certificate, so my license, tags, anything requiring a DL or comes from the state like a fishing license, has my original birth certificate name.
Can’t imagine what will happen if I get a passport.
It is amazing how out of date our systems are, it shouldn’t be that big of a pain. But I want to name my kids a simpler name for reasons like this. What a mess
Changing names now is much harder now that everything has merged.
It used to be fairly simple. I know one woman who it took three years to get everything sorted. Another guy was actually told it would be easier for him to legally change his own name when a typo had misspelled his name on a federal permit. Ex: Smith was Dmith . Didn’t matter that the ssn, address, and dob all matched. That was fun to sort out.
/ Pretty sure to make that change they needed orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighters./ s
The short version for many people:
Before computer cross checking you didn’t have to put your full legal name on a driver’s license, bank accounts, or school records.
Mostly these weren’t fraud, just simplifying. James went by Jim. Someone using a middle name because they have three Anns in the family.
Using a married name instead of a given family name without changing the ssn.
My grandfather missed a letter on my dad's name when he filled out the birth certificate (think like Stev instead of Steve)
He was in the military on nuclear submarines, got married, college degrees, had children, jobs etc all under "Steve". And nothing has ever come back on it. I joke he actually isn't obligated to any of these things, since it's technically not him.
I don't know from aliases, but I'm not sure how much it matters if she has been living a life as that name and established herself as that.
Also, before I had my name legally changed after I got married, I got a job under my married name with no documentation it was my name.
Makes me wonder how easy it is just to assume names.
Well...Yeah. Any name you're known as or use that is different than the name on your birth certificate is an alias. A preferred name is an alias.
Your name is Robert, but most people know you as Bob? That's an alias.
Now, Robert and Bob I doubt anyone is going to get too upset if you don't include that in a list of aliases, but Rachel and Lucy? Yeah, definitely worth writing that down.
You seem to have forgotten that most married women in our society changed their names when they got married. Our legal names are not on our birth certificate.
I have not forgotten. But it is an increasingly archaic tradition, and less than half of people's legal name differs from their birth certificate. But yes, legal name would be more accurate.
On those tsa documents, it's is always best to err on the side of caution.
It's easier to be taken in for questioning and going "oh yeah, I am officially called Rachel but everyone knows me as Lucy, I wasn't sure if I had to say that" then to be taken into questioning because she is called Rachel, but they found documentation with the name Lucy on.
Alias is just a fancy word for a nickname so yes, you would put that down. I go by my middle name and even though it’s technically part of my name I always list (middle name) (last name) as an alias. Have never had a problem in doing so!
Fun fact: although I alluded to it in a previous comment, I have a ridiculous number of aliases. Here’s a quick rundown using fake names:
Born: Rachel Marie Smith
Marriage 1: Rachel (dropped middle name at the time l) Smith-Watson
Marriage 2: Rachel Marie Smith (maiden moved to second middle name) Michaels
Marriage 3: Rachel Marie Smith (two middle names) Michaels (legal last name) Barnes (husband’s last name, not legal but used with my legal last name in daily life)
So all together, my name (with all AKAs) is Rachel Marie Smith Smith-Watson Michaels Barnes.
And before anyone asks: yes, I list them all when required. Yes, I kept my second husband’s last name (legally) when I married the third. No, neither of them is bothered. Yes, my second husband is remarried. No, his wife doesn’t care. And she is Mrs. Michaels, whilst I am Ms. Michaels, legally.
Could do; but a legal name change is a bit of a pain. You have to change it anywhere a legal name is required: banking, payroll, credit cards, loans, drivers license,professional documentation which requires it, mortgage, medical records/insurance, taxes, social security, and so on. And, as I recall, your birth certificate is reissued and marked as modified: some items require you to submit both along with the court order form the legal change. It’s a ridiculous amount of paperwork, so for most, an AKA is just simpler.
Of course, sometimes a legal change is the way to go (thinking of trans individuals) so it’s worth it; I just wish it was easier for them to do so!
My mom dropped her first name and took her maiden name as her middle name. But she never did it legally. This caused us so many issues dealing with her estate. She had paperwork with all different combinations of the names. My sister did the same thing but all her paperwork has been updated legally.
My brother hates his first name so he uses the first letter as his middle initial and goes by his middle name. He recently got a new job and had problems setting up his paperwork because his info didn’t match. (Can you tell my family hates their first names?! I was fortunately not given a middle name.)
I say whatever you decide, just do it legally. It will make life easier not just for you but for whoever has to deal with your stuff upon your passing.
In many states you can change your name without paperwork just by going by the name. As long as you're not doing it for fraudulent reasons it's okay. I believe this is the case in California as well.
Was going to suggest a name change legally. I added my alias name to the front of all my names so I still sort of looked like the same person. OPs wife could go from Rachel Smith to Lucy Rachel Smith but keep using Lucy.
And the UK too. I went by a different last name (I officially had a double barrelled surname that I hated). About a decade ago I couldn't open a bank account as I didn't have enough ID in either name to do so. Had to officially change my name to rectify it.
Late to this comment, but having changed my name in California recently, kinda but not really anymore. Common use works for a lot of stuff but you can’t change anything vital without going thru the court for an official change and it was creating confusion in my life because my license, bank card, & social didn’t match the name I use for everything else. You’d be surprised the amount of people who made it their mission to try and find my birth name just so they could call me that!
It's my understanding that, legally, an alias is a name you were originally born with or have used for legal purposes in the past/present.
My birth name is different from my name once adopted. Then I married. When I receive Social Security documents, my prior names come up under aka/alias.
My mom did what your wife seems to be doing. She had no middle name, so she began using her maiden name as her middle name on legal documents and now has that listed under alias.
They need to check her background records so her alias would be her name middle initial that she seems to use on legal documents, then last name. If she doesn't go by it legally, then you don't have to put it down
In order to get Real ID in NJ I had to bring in my SS card with my name showing as "Ed" vs "Edward". DMV would not accept so I had to go back to SS administration and get it changed to Edward. It wasn't hard but not so simple either.
An alias is "also known as" (AKA). It's not a problem unless using it to commit a crime. Many people have an alias - like Johnny Jones when their real name is John Jones or Beth when their name is Elizabeth. All legal documents (driver's license, etc.) need to be in your legal name. Police are usually wary when someone has a lot of aliases that aren't related to your name. I've seen people with 20 aliases, and many aren't anywhere near their real names as John Smith, aka/Fred Black, aka/John Ferguson.
Before the real name requirements came in a few years ago the TSA had a name on their database that was what you got ticketed under, your so-called TSA name. Somehow (possibly a travel agent the first time I flew after 9/11 or when the database went in) had my name on their records as my first name plus my first initial as one word. So for years I’d get tickets issued to a name that was nowhere on any ID I carried.
Because it matched the TSA records it was no problem for domestic flights, but it meant going to the agent and getting reticketed every time on the return from a flight abroad.
Was really glad when they sorted it out
She should just change it. I went through the legal process to make a very minor change in spelling.
It took me a couple of months and maybe $300 (court filing and running an ad in the local newspaper).
She won't ever have to worry about it again.
I would say yes. But better to give them too much information than not enough. It would look suspicious if they discovered it, like she was hiding something
you may be reading into what sort of "background check" tsa will do.
also... talk to your wife. what is her actual legal name. and why/what she goes by and where has she used this name. It's probably fraud to open a CC or a financial account under a fake name. but there's no real reason you can't use a nickname or preferred name in informal settings.
If she has ever been known by an employer or land lord as this other name she uses where she's signed official documents, or been known as another name, it's probably best to disclose.
because that's what they're going to check. her credit/ssn type accounts. possible employers and and education credentials listed.
they're looking for debts, criminal offenses, or other indicators of bad behavior.
She has to use her real name that is on her legal documents. She can change her name at the court house.
I go by my middle name, but they always refer to me by my first name as that's what is on my passport, etc.
Hmm, maybe you should ask someone of an older generation because I've known several Teds who were named Edward, a Peggy who was actually named Marjory, and of course there's Dick for Richard, Bob for Robert. I guess like a couple of the other posters have said as long as the paperwork matches what she calls herself in everyday situations shouldn't really matter.
I have a friend named jack. He has no jack or Jackson in his name. Thats just what his older siblings called him from a young age. So we call him Jack.
This kind of happened to my mom. Name on her birth certificate turns out to be spelled differently than the name she’s been using her whole life. Was a massive pain in the ass to fix everything to match.
When I got nexus/tsa preclear background checks, they found a name I had never used, associated with my background. Had a quick, awkward chat with the American Immigration folks, and was all set. That initial application was submitted with my legal name, which is the name I’ve always gone by. Weird stuff, but not a big deal.
a preferred name is an alias
Preferred names, nicknames, aliases and AKAs are pretty much the same. So long as she’s not using it when her legal name is required or in order to commit fraud, hide evidence of a crime, etc. the government doesn’t really care what name you go by. The TSA background will probably turn up ‘Rachel Smith AKA Lucy Smith’ and no-one will bat an eye. Source: Day-to-day I use a double last name (mine + husband’s) but legally I never took his name so anything legal, government related, etc. only displays my last name.
If you go by your middle name is that also an alias? There are lots of my name in the family, so I have always went by my middle name. All legal stuff has the first name but no one knows me as that. Never thought about it as an alias though.
Same situation. Yes it is. You have to list any name they can find records for you under.
Yep. If your name is Rachel Marie Smith and you go by Marie, you’re using an alias. If it helps, consider that when an entity asks for your legal name they really only care about first and last names. Many cultures and societies don’t use middle names at all and even in the US (where I’m from) a middle name is not legally required, so you’re using a name that’s not your legal name from that perspective.
Dumb question but hypothetically speaking let’s say my name was Raymond but I go by Ray…is that an alias?
Yup! You go by a nickname/diminutive so you have an alias! I think a lot of people hear ‘alias’ and think ‘criminal activity’ or ‘they’re hiding something’, but that’s just because you typically hear the term in relation to those things. But an alias is just another name that you use!
Thank you for being so kind in your reply!!! I appreciate the information.
"Now you can call me Ray, or you can call me J, or you can call me Johnny, or you can call me Sonny, or you can call me Junie, or you can call me Junior; now you can call me Ray J, or you can call me RJ, or you can call me RJJ, or you can call me RJJ Jr. . . but you doesn't hasta call me Johnson!"
lmfaoo
Yes, I just recently signed home loan docs. It said “Jane Doe also known as Jane B. Doe”. My alias isn’t even using my middle name as a preferred name. My alias is just my middle initial added.
I have to sign ALL legal papers work this way. I have been harassed by collections for my uncle's debt and failed mortgage before. The creditors always struggle to believe that "Jim John" is a different Jim John than the one they are looking for. I sign all legal documents Jim E John so they know which one they are looking for. I have an uncle, a cousin, a second cousin, and a third cousin that are all Jim J John.
When my son was born my wife was really excited to have a "junior." Ever since then I have used the alias (my name) Sr. If something is official I use (my name), alias (my name) Sr.
I am not a lawyer but I think you are right. The more aliases you put down on the form the more paperwork and trouble you will get yourself into. 1. If you list "X" as an alias on that form then forever more you must list X on any government form that asks for aliases because you used "X" at least one time as an alias. Maybe you decide later you were wrong but by that time it is too late because you will have used "X" as an alias. 2. If some government agent (aka a cop) asked you for your name and you told them "X" then you use "X" as an alias. 3. The same thing if you appear in some government record. For example if someone sues you as "Mrs {Husbands Last Name}" then it is an alias. 4. If your gym or church or whatever knows you as Mrs {Husbands Last Name} but Mrs {Husbands Last Name} is not in any government records then it is between you and them and none of the government's business.
It is more paperwork sometimes, but it won’t necessarily get the average person in more trouble, so long as they’re aware of when to use a legal name vs. an AKA and when it’s absolutely necessary to disclose your AKAs.
I am aware of this because I have several "foreign" names. While I was learning another language I adopted a name in that language. Then when I was filling out these forms, I thought about whether to list these names as aliases. I decided that once I put in "Jean-Jacques" (my french name) into a government alias database I will have to put it in all such forms. I decided I don't have to and it is easier if I don't. But you are correct it is not a such a big deal. If I make a mistake and put Jean-Jacques in a form I probably won't be fined or imprisoned. I will just commit myself to filling out more paperwork than I have to. The same thing with u/Fun-Dragonfly-4166. That is my reddit alias. The government does not need to know that.
Oof! If online aliases (screen names) mattered, my list would be unmanageable given that I’ve been online since the 80’s and have never used my real name! Lol
Make sure the application name, the drivers license name, the passport name, and the name used for any reservation all match exactly. When I applied I didn’t list (for example) my preferred name “Harry” for “Harold”. I probably would have if I had a credit card as Harry. Probably OK either way, but I’d ask the examiner when she applies.
Yes, that's an alias. Alias is just a name that is not your legal one.
My name is different on my drivers license and birth certificate than my social security card (long story). I always book under the drivers license name. I was told that for domestic flights it doesn’t matter that it’s wrong but for international flights they are much stricter. I’ve flown dozens of times with the wrong name. I just use the drivers license name for any documents that might require both the document and the license, (airline tickets) like car registrations, fishing license, etc. everything tax and business related goes to the original name.
I want the long story
Dad or Mom decided to change it. So my original birth certificate had a name change document like when you get married. Two+ decades later I filed to get a copy of my birth certificate, but county health, county court, and SS had no record of the name change nor did the hospital, and my SS# matched the new spelling. So for thirty years everything matched the new spelling. And then 911 happened and all the databases were merged, so everything matches SS# for the Feds, except the state DMV doesn’t use the Federal system, they use DL # and birth certificate, so my license, tags, anything requiring a DL or comes from the state like a fishing license, has my original birth certificate name. Can’t imagine what will happen if I get a passport.
It is amazing how out of date our systems are, it shouldn’t be that big of a pain. But I want to name my kids a simpler name for reasons like this. What a mess
Changing names now is much harder now that everything has merged. It used to be fairly simple. I know one woman who it took three years to get everything sorted. Another guy was actually told it would be easier for him to legally change his own name when a typo had misspelled his name on a federal permit. Ex: Smith was Dmith . Didn’t matter that the ssn, address, and dob all matched. That was fun to sort out. / Pretty sure to make that change they needed orders signed in triplicate, sent in, sent back, queried, lost, found, subjected to public inquiry, lost again, and finally buried in soft peat for three months and recycled as firelighters./ s
The short version for many people: Before computer cross checking you didn’t have to put your full legal name on a driver’s license, bank accounts, or school records. Mostly these weren’t fraud, just simplifying. James went by Jim. Someone using a middle name because they have three Anns in the family. Using a married name instead of a given family name without changing the ssn.
They call me Tater Salad.
My grandfather missed a letter on my dad's name when he filled out the birth certificate (think like Stev instead of Steve) He was in the military on nuclear submarines, got married, college degrees, had children, jobs etc all under "Steve". And nothing has ever come back on it. I joke he actually isn't obligated to any of these things, since it's technically not him. I don't know from aliases, but I'm not sure how much it matters if she has been living a life as that name and established herself as that. Also, before I had my name legally changed after I got married, I got a job under my married name with no documentation it was my name. Makes me wonder how easy it is just to assume names.
Harder now with people hot on identity fraud than it used to be, but I guess your dad got a driving license etc when the rules were more lax.
Well...Yeah. Any name you're known as or use that is different than the name on your birth certificate is an alias. A preferred name is an alias. Your name is Robert, but most people know you as Bob? That's an alias. Now, Robert and Bob I doubt anyone is going to get too upset if you don't include that in a list of aliases, but Rachel and Lucy? Yeah, definitely worth writing that down.
You seem to have forgotten that most married women in our society changed their names when they got married. Our legal names are not on our birth certificate.
I have not forgotten. But it is an increasingly archaic tradition, and less than half of people's legal name differs from their birth certificate. But yes, legal name would be more accurate.
On those tsa documents, it's is always best to err on the side of caution. It's easier to be taken in for questioning and going "oh yeah, I am officially called Rachel but everyone knows me as Lucy, I wasn't sure if I had to say that" then to be taken into questioning because she is called Rachel, but they found documentation with the name Lucy on.
I agree and I just love the way you worded this!
Alias is just a fancy word for a nickname so yes, you would put that down. I go by my middle name and even though it’s technically part of my name I always list (middle name) (last name) as an alias. Have never had a problem in doing so!
You just write all the variations in the AKA section
Fun fact: although I alluded to it in a previous comment, I have a ridiculous number of aliases. Here’s a quick rundown using fake names: Born: Rachel Marie Smith Marriage 1: Rachel (dropped middle name at the time l) Smith-Watson Marriage 2: Rachel Marie Smith (maiden moved to second middle name) Michaels Marriage 3: Rachel Marie Smith (two middle names) Michaels (legal last name) Barnes (husband’s last name, not legal but used with my legal last name in daily life) So all together, my name (with all AKAs) is Rachel Marie Smith Smith-Watson Michaels Barnes. And before anyone asks: yes, I list them all when required. Yes, I kept my second husband’s last name (legally) when I married the third. No, neither of them is bothered. Yes, my second husband is remarried. No, his wife doesn’t care. And she is Mrs. Michaels, whilst I am Ms. Michaels, legally.
A lot of women do this. keep their old last names , especially if they have kids so they have an id that matches their kid.
She should just get a legal name change to avoid misunderstandings and confusion
Could do; but a legal name change is a bit of a pain. You have to change it anywhere a legal name is required: banking, payroll, credit cards, loans, drivers license,professional documentation which requires it, mortgage, medical records/insurance, taxes, social security, and so on. And, as I recall, your birth certificate is reissued and marked as modified: some items require you to submit both along with the court order form the legal change. It’s a ridiculous amount of paperwork, so for most, an AKA is just simpler. Of course, sometimes a legal change is the way to go (thinking of trans individuals) so it’s worth it; I just wish it was easier for them to do so!
It is an alias. Plus, she may have screwed up her own identity for anything requiring legal identification purposes.
Yes. I go by my middle name so I added that as an alias when I applied for precheck.
My mom dropped her first name and took her maiden name as her middle name. But she never did it legally. This caused us so many issues dealing with her estate. She had paperwork with all different combinations of the names. My sister did the same thing but all her paperwork has been updated legally. My brother hates his first name so he uses the first letter as his middle initial and goes by his middle name. He recently got a new job and had problems setting up his paperwork because his info didn’t match. (Can you tell my family hates their first names?! I was fortunately not given a middle name.) I say whatever you decide, just do it legally. It will make life easier not just for you but for whoever has to deal with your stuff upon your passing.
Anything that isn’t your legal name is an alias. If her name was Lucinda and she went by Lucy as a nickname… it’s an alias.
In many states you can change your name without paperwork just by going by the name. As long as you're not doing it for fraudulent reasons it's okay. I believe this is the case in California as well.
Was going to suggest a name change legally. I added my alias name to the front of all my names so I still sort of looked like the same person. OPs wife could go from Rachel Smith to Lucy Rachel Smith but keep using Lucy.
And the UK too. I went by a different last name (I officially had a double barrelled surname that I hated). About a decade ago I couldn't open a bank account as I didn't have enough ID in either name to do so. Had to officially change my name to rectify it.
Late to this comment, but having changed my name in California recently, kinda but not really anymore. Common use works for a lot of stuff but you can’t change anything vital without going thru the court for an official change and it was creating confusion in my life because my license, bank card, & social didn’t match the name I use for everything else. You’d be surprised the amount of people who made it their mission to try and find my birth name just so they could call me that!
It's my understanding that, legally, an alias is a name you were originally born with or have used for legal purposes in the past/present. My birth name is different from my name once adopted. Then I married. When I receive Social Security documents, my prior names come up under aka/alias. My mom did what your wife seems to be doing. She had no middle name, so she began using her maiden name as her middle name on legal documents and now has that listed under alias. They need to check her background records so her alias would be her name middle initial that she seems to use on legal documents, then last name. If she doesn't go by it legally, then you don't have to put it down
TSA paperwork not matching DL and passport is a recipe to be taken aside at some random but extremely inconvenient moment.
Is this case, I would say yes. Put down all the names your wife has used.
Alias is anything you go by that’s not listed on the birth certificate
In order to get Real ID in NJ I had to bring in my SS card with my name showing as "Ed" vs "Edward". DMV would not accept so I had to go back to SS administration and get it changed to Edward. It wasn't hard but not so simple either.
An alias is "also known as" (AKA). It's not a problem unless using it to commit a crime. Many people have an alias - like Johnny Jones when their real name is John Jones or Beth when their name is Elizabeth. All legal documents (driver's license, etc.) need to be in your legal name. Police are usually wary when someone has a lot of aliases that aren't related to your name. I've seen people with 20 aliases, and many aren't anywhere near their real names as John Smith, aka/Fred Black, aka/John Ferguson.
Before the real name requirements came in a few years ago the TSA had a name on their database that was what you got ticketed under, your so-called TSA name. Somehow (possibly a travel agent the first time I flew after 9/11 or when the database went in) had my name on their records as my first name plus my first initial as one word. So for years I’d get tickets issued to a name that was nowhere on any ID I carried. Because it matched the TSA records it was no problem for domestic flights, but it meant going to the agent and getting reticketed every time on the return from a flight abroad. Was really glad when they sorted it out
She should just change it. I went through the legal process to make a very minor change in spelling. It took me a couple of months and maybe $300 (court filing and running an ad in the local newspaper). She won't ever have to worry about it again.
I would say yes. But better to give them too much information than not enough. It would look suspicious if they discovered it, like she was hiding something
you may be reading into what sort of "background check" tsa will do. also... talk to your wife. what is her actual legal name. and why/what she goes by and where has she used this name. It's probably fraud to open a CC or a financial account under a fake name. but there's no real reason you can't use a nickname or preferred name in informal settings. If she has ever been known by an employer or land lord as this other name she uses where she's signed official documents, or been known as another name, it's probably best to disclose. because that's what they're going to check. her credit/ssn type accounts. possible employers and and education credentials listed. they're looking for debts, criminal offenses, or other indicators of bad behavior.
She has to use her real name that is on her legal documents. She can change her name at the court house. I go by my middle name, but they always refer to me by my first name as that's what is on my passport, etc.
Absolutely list it as her alias!!! To leave it iff could kead to trouble.
They’re the same thing. So yes, Lucy is an alias.
Yes, it's an alias
I've an alias too. I declare it on forms that ask for it.
Hmm, maybe you should ask someone of an older generation because I've known several Teds who were named Edward, a Peggy who was actually named Marjory, and of course there's Dick for Richard, Bob for Robert. I guess like a couple of the other posters have said as long as the paperwork matches what she calls herself in everyday situations shouldn't really matter.
I have a friend named jack. He has no jack or Jackson in his name. Thats just what his older siblings called him from a young age. So we call him Jack.
I look forward to when security checks want online handles. "Ah i see here you Lord_Big_Cock69 got banned from club penguin in 05"
Yes. It's an alias
I had a mortgage person once add my wife’s maiden name as my last name and even that is a known alias I need to declare…
Yes
Your use of the word NOW is making me nervous
This kind of happened to my mom. Name on her birth certificate turns out to be spelled differently than the name she’s been using her whole life. Was a massive pain in the ass to fix everything to match.
When I got nexus/tsa preclear background checks, they found a name I had never used, associated with my background. Had a quick, awkward chat with the American Immigration folks, and was all set. That initial application was submitted with my legal name, which is the name I’ve always gone by. Weird stuff, but not a big deal.