A lot of people change their name in California every year. The process is not complicated and used to be even easier. In the old days, you could change your name by usage (also called a common law name change)- you just had to pick a name and start using it. After a while you would go to all the agencies, such as the Social Security Administration and the DMV, and ask them to change your records so your new name could become your legal name.
Today you need a court order to change your name except when the name change is due to a marriage. When you are taking your spouse’s name you can just show your marriage certificate to any agency and they will change your name on your records. This possibility is not offered to domestic partners anymore who need a court order to take their partner’s name.
You can take any name you desire except: the name of a famous person if you do it with the intention of benefitting financially from that person’s name, or if it going to cause any harm, a fictitious name covered by a copyright or any racial slurs of fighting words. It also has to be written in letters, not symbols, at least in California.
In order to change your name you need to file a name change petition with the Superior Court where you live and then publish your new name in a local newspaper for four consecutive weeks. You won’t always need to appear in court, each court has specific requirements. If your name change is approved, the court will issue a court order that you will be able to show to any agency in order to change your records.
If you are trying to change the name of a minor, make sure you obtain the agreement of both parents.