American football
I've played professional American football in the US for the D.C. Divas in the WFA Pro, and represented Great Britain. Full-contact tackle, helmets and all.
Hi, I'm Anna. I've changed my name four times.
Some of them properly, some of them halfway, and one of them on a black sand beach in Iceland. So when I say I know how annoying name change admin is, I really mean it.
Name Roberts Akinyosoye
My name's had a few goes.
Here's every name I've had, in order. Yes, really.
- 1 Akinyosoye The one I was born with. My dad's surname.
- 2 Page My nan's surname. My parents changed it when I was 16.
- 3 Akinyosoye Back to my dad's, after we reconnected. I wanted it to be the name read out at my wedding.
- 4 Roberts Married. Briefly. Then annulled - and yes, that's a thing.
- 5 Akinyosoye Back again. This time it's staying.
- ? ??? Until my boyfriend proposes. Then we go again.
Why Akinyosoye?
It's part of my heritage, and I love it. I love that side of my family. Out of every name I've had, it's the one that feels the most like mine.
Lots of name changes. Not much doing the do.
Here's the embarrassing bit. I changed my name loads of times without ever actually finishing the admin. I'd sort a few things, put the rest off, and for years a lot of my official stuff was still in my nan's surname. Even when I got married, I only changed it some of the way.
This year I finally said: no, we're figuring this out. We're doing it. I updated my passport three times just to go through the process and understand it properly. Same with the DVLA, and same with everything else.
That's how I know exactly why people put this off. It's not hard, it's just a lot. It's boring, it's the same details twenty times over, and there's always something more fun to do. So I built the service I wish had existed for me.
I'm an engineer, technically.
I always wanted to be a pilot. I flew gliders with the air cadets from 16 to 20 and ended up instructing, which tickled the flying buzz. I applied to the RAF, but there was a waiting pool, so I went to university instead and did systems engineering.
Systems engineering is basically learning how processes flow and the best way to fix a problem. Which, it turns out, set me up pretty well for life. And for this.
Then came the big girl jobs. I worked in aerospace at Airbus on landing gear (the bit that gets you safely down on your holidays), in oil field companies, and in mass manufacturing internal doors. Mostly process and quality engineering, with bits of design. So yes, I've probably engineered your internal doors. And yes, there's engineering in a door. It was harder than aerospace, which I never thought I'd say.
After that I was an area manager at Amazon, looking after a sort centre through COVID, then working across three sites and the London headquarters.
And I very quickly realised I fucking hated big girl jobs.
The route here
- Glider instructor
- Systems engineering degree
- Airbus landing gear
- Oil field companies
- Your internal doors
- Amazon
- SlothMove
- My Name Changed
I've done this before.
Before this, I built SlothMove, which took the admin out of moving house. I built it from nothing with no technical background, scaled it, and exited.
My Name Changed is the one I'm doing completely on my own. My own gut, my own instincts, my own way of doing things. So far, it's done me pretty well.
What I believe.
Three things I'd put on a T-shirt.
- 01
Reclaim what's meant for you.
Your name, your time, your afternoon back. Life admin shouldn't eat the stuff that's meant for you.
- 02
You get to choose.
Marriage, divorce, going back to an old name, double-barrelling, mashing two surnames together or just because. Every reason is a good reason, and you don't owe anyone an explanation.
- 03
Fuck around and find out.
It's how I've done everything. Try it, learn it, then do it properly. I've already done the finding out, three passports' worth, so you don't have to.
When I'm not changing names.
Iceland
I'm obsessed with Iceland. I've been going since I was 21 and it's my favourite place in the world. I got married there, and I've been back since to reclaim it. I'll never not love it.
Kev
My boyfriend Kev is a professional American football coach, so there's no escaping football at home. He's my support network and I love him. We're always laughing, and we back each other's big ambitions all the way. He came back to Iceland with me to reclaim it, and he's the reason the last name on my list is still a question mark.
The spaniels
Three Springer Spaniels. Springy by name, springy by nature, and they will absolutely watch you in the bath.
It's just me. Really.
No call centre, no ticket number. When your name gets updated, I'm the one doing it. If you've got a question, about your name change or anything else, email me or DM me on Instagram or TikTok. I'll get back to you as soon as I physically can, unless I've literally got no signal.
150+ people helped since the start of June, a good chunk of them while I was recovering from a knee reconstruction. Turns out you can change a lot of names from the sofa.
This isn't a big corporation. It's just me, looking after your data the way I'd want mine looked after. How I handle your data →
Your turn. Promise it's easier.
One form, £45, and I'll do the rest. I've had plenty of practice.
150+ people helped since the start of June.