You’ve spent weeks researching the perfect S.C.A. name, finding just the right sound, just the
right spelling, just the right feeling--a name to which you’ll be proud to answer for the next
several decades. You sit down to fill out the name submission form, and before you even get to
the part where you summarize all your carefully-collected evidence, they’re asking you whether
you’ll permit the Ansteorran College of Heralds or the Society College of Arms to change your
name! Why would you even consider doing that?
There are two reasons.
First, unless you’ve done a very thorough and convincing job of proving that every element of
the name you’re submitting was used in period as you’re planning to use it, that the elements
are plausible together, and that you’ve put them together as they would’ve been put together
in period, it’s very possible that checking the “I will not accept... changes” boxes on your
submission form will get your name returned for reasons that seem trivial to you. For instance,
Laurel recently ruled that the family name O’Moraín can’t be registered because it combines
an Anglicized Gaelic particle with a Gaelic personal name. The entirely Gaelic Ó Moraín , on
the other hand, is just fine. If you check the “I will not accept minor changes...” box,
you’re saying that you would rather have your name returned than have it changed by that much.
Similarly, Laurel ruled that the improperly-constructed byname van der Utrecht is unacceptable,
while the grammatically-correct van Utrecht can be used. If you check the “I will not accept
major changes...” box, you’re saying that you would rather have your name returned than have
a change like that made.
Second, submitted names are reviewed by heralds all over the world. Some of them are very, very
knowledgeable about names and naming practices. If you permit them to change your name to make
it more authentic, you will end up with the most realistic medieval or Renaissance name possible
rather than a name that might just “squeak by” on a literal interpretation of the Rules for
Submission. Even if you’re not too worried about that now, you might later become more interested
in your persona period and decide you want a name that truly fits it. If you’ve registered
something inaccurate, the only way to get one will be to go through the whole submissions process
again.
Whatever your reasons for permitting changes, you needn’t be concerned that gratuitous or excessive
ones will be made. The registering bodies want you to be happy with your name. If they alter it, it
will be because it needs to be altered in order to comply with the Rules for Submission or (if
you’ve asked them to make it so) to become authentic, and they’ll make the smallest alterations
they can that will achieve that goal.