I'm No Muppet!

by Tina Clough, 2 Dec 2008.

Mind-boggling name changes of 2008, include tongue twisters like 'Animal Stephen Leonidas, Floyd, Mayweather, McManus Edmunds' and the odd homeage to film characters, such as 'Dr McLovin', are amongst some of the crazy names us Brits choose to adopt, but aside from the odd pub prank, some of them are conducted for quite heart-felt reasons as Tina Clough investigates.

Animal is not just a character from the Muppets it is now the name of a Thorpe Park security guard from Surrey.

After changing his name using The Legal Deed Poll Service, Stephen Edmunds has legally become Animal Stephen Leonidas, Floyd, Mayweather, McManus Edmunds.

The 26-year-old of Fordwater Road, Chertsey, Surrey said, "After biting a child at school when I was about ten my friend's gave me the nick-name 'Animal' and it stuck."

"I set up a Facebook group called, 'If 5000 people join this group I'll change my first name to Animal'. After getting a bit board he lowered his limit to 2000. "I went ahead and did it as all my friends said I should just do it anyway." He added. The Facebook group currently has a massive 1133 members.

"I've always hated the name Stephen and have been thinking about changing it permanently to Animal for years."

Chief Executive of The Legal Deed Service, Jamie Jackson said: "Since February 2008 we have had 16000 people change their names, this is just one of many crazy name changes that we've processed. So many people come to us for a name change because we are one of the only providers of on-line deed polls costing just £10."

Based in Islington, London and Market Drayton, Shropshire, The Legal Deed Service not only offer crazy name changes but can change your child's name, your title or status quickly and easily.

Animal found The Legal Deed Service on the internet. "They were good, really quick. I did it online and I have recommended them to a couple of friends who are interested in doing the same."

His full name may sound weird but to go with Animal he wanted middle names that had a special meaning to him.

"I kept Stephen as that was my given name. I'm a big fan of history and I like the story of 300 and I just love the name Leonidas it means 'Lion-like'. Floyd Mayweather is quite a big hero of mine and McManus is the last name of a friend of mine who helped me through a lot - an awesome friend, it was a mark of respect."

All his friends and even his boss call him Animal. He is unattached at the moment but his ex girlfriends called him Animal as well! Since his name change some friends have started to call him just plain Floyd!

The reaction from most people has been very positive and most think it's a laugh. "I don't really speak to my parents, I do what I want and they accept it. My sister thinks it's hilarious and that I'm a bit of a nutter anyway - I've got loads of tattoos and piercing's."

Animal works full time on gatehouse security at Thorpe Amusement Park in Chertsey, Surrey where he has worked on and off since doing seasonal work in 2004. He grew up in Windsor and went to school at Homer First School, Dedworth Middle School and Windsor Boy's School.

He wants to be taken seriously and plans to change his passport and put the new name on cheque-books. The only drawback he sees could be future job applications. "On official forms I would use Animal because that's my legal name, but for CV's for Jobs I would probably start with Stephen, Leonides or Floyd."

Text: © 2008, 2009, The Legal Deed Service Ltd.

Image: © S&B media 2008

This page was last updated: 28th April 2009

   What is a Deed Poll?         Is it worth it?           Accepted by?            Am I eligible?        Apply today!