england-and-wales name
Deed poll name changes alter egos
<p>If <a href="https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll" rel="nofollow noreferrer">deed polls</a> are a legal way to change your name in the UK, then what will prevent deed polls from being used to legally create alter egos for yourself, and you to enter into contracts with one of your own alter egos?</p>

<p>A change of name is just that - it's a change; not the creation of an alter ego.</p>
<p>From <a href="https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/make-an-adult-deed-poll" rel="nofollow noreferrer">How to make your own deed poll</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Use the following wording:</p>
<p>“I [old name] of [your address] <strong>have given up</strong> my name [old name] and have adopted <strong>for all purposes</strong> the name [new name].</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And from the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/apply-to-change-your-name-forms-loc020-loc021-and-loc025" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Form LOC19 guidance document</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>I ABSOLUTELY and entirely <strong>renounce relinquish and abandon the use of my old name</strong> and assume adopt and determine to take and use from the date of this Deed my new name in substitution for my old name.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>As @Rick’s answer says, a Deed Poll involves formally renouncing the old name when taking the new so it does not create an alter-ego.</p>
<p>However, that just begs the question: is it legal to have and se an alter-ego?</p>
<p>In most cases, yes.</p>
<p>Your “name” is simply the words that are associated with you so that you and other people know that it’s you that’s being talked about when they are used. You can have as many as you like and any of the ones you have can be used in most private legal contexts like entering contracts.</p>
<p>The government usually insists that you use the name on your birth certificate (or deed poll) but if you enter a contract under a maiden name or a nickname, you will be bound to that contract.</p>
<p>You can never enter a contract with yourself, even if yourself has different names.</p>
