I had to change my name when I moved to Australia – people laughed when I told them it, there’s a stupid meaning here
AN AMERICAN woman living in Australia has changed her moniker after finding out its meaning in Down Under.
Devyn Hales, 22, from California, the USA, now goes by the name Dev to avoid being associated with a rather popular sandwich ingredient Aussies love.
Devyn, who is currently in Australia on a one-year working visa, explained to Daily Mail Australia how an incident on St Patrick’s day revealed what her moniker stood for there.
This happened after the young woman introduced herself to a group of men and they started to make fun of her.
”They burst out laughing and when I asked them why, they told me Devyn is processed lunch meat.”
Sharing the story on TikTok, the American chuckled in the now-viral video: ”It’s similar to baloney so I introduce myself as Dev now.”
Fellow social media users who also shared the same moniker were left just as horrified as Dev once was, flocking to comments in total disbelief.
”Tell me the name thing isn’t true,” a woman called Devon was mortified.
Another chimed in: ”Wait, omg, my name is Devin and that happened to me too.”
”My name is Devin I didn’t know that’s what they called a type of lunch meat,” a third wrote.
It’s not the only Aussie habit that she had to adapt – and a common footwear choice was just one of them.
Dev, who posts under the username @dhalesss, went on: ”So everyone wears slides. I feel like I’m the only one with ‘thongs’ – flip-flops – that have the little thing in the middle of your big toe.”
Another big fashion trend, she listed, was sporting shorts that go all the way down to your knees, as well as tattoos, piercings and mullets on ”everyone”.
But despite all the oddities, Dev noted that her video was all in good fun and that she loved being in Australia, where the coffee also tasted better than back home, in the USA.
Another observation she’d made was most men being overprotective, especially when noticing Dev and her girl pals being hit on by strangers.
”Everyone is extremely friendly – literally, the nicest people that I have ever met!”
In California, Dev claimed, men and women are ”scary’, unlike the ”welcoming” Aussies.
How much does it cost to change your name?
Although you don’t have to follow a legal process to start using a new moniker, you may need a deed poll to apply for, or to change official documents such as your driving licence and passport.
It’s also advised to save a bit of money, as the process isn’t always free, The Sun reported earlier – however, there are exceptions.
For example, if you’re getting married and choose to take your partner’s surname, this is free and you just need to inform the relevant services.
But if you want to change your name by deed poll, this will come with a fee.
An unenrolled deed poll – the less formal way of changing your name – is free.
However, it’s worth noting that you may have to pay a solicitor or an agency to help you – and this could cost a few hundred pounds.
Meanwhile, an enrolled deed poll means your new name will be publicly on record.
It costs £42.44 and is made up of made up of a Court Enrolment Free (£10), Advertisement Charge (£28.44) and Copy of London Gazette (£4).