Lived and Legal Name

Where does my name display?

The lived name provided will be the default name displayed on course rosters and in most staff- and faculty-facing systems. The student’s legal name will still display to staff that have been granted permission or in cases where the legal name is required by law or for reporting purposes (e.g., financial aid, billing, reporting to the government for tax or visa purposes, Student Health and Counseling And Psychological Services, etc.).

Under FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a student’s name may be disclosed to the public as “directory information” unless the student opts not to permit such disclosure. For students who have selected a lived name, only the lived name will be disclosed. For more information on disclosure of FERPA directory information, please visit the Records Privacy page.

Lived and legal names will be displayed in the following places:

Legal and lived names will be used when mailing to the following addresses:

Disclaimer

UCSB will display lived names to the university community where feasible and appropriate, and will make a good faith effort to update reports, documents and systems designated to use lived names. Inappropriate use of a lived name (including but not limited to avoiding legal obligation or misrepresentation) may be cause for denying the use of lived names. UCSB reserves the right to remove any lived name that is deemed inappropriate.

UCSB aims to serve students from all genders, gender identities, and gender expressions. Students are encouraged to meet with a staff member to discuss how the university may assist with their needs or questions specific to one's gender and/or name used on university records. To schedule a confidential appointment, students may contact the Director of LGBTQ Resources (rcsgd@sa.ucsb.edu) or the Associate Registrar for Academic and Student Services (sara.cook@sa.ucsb.edu).

International Students

Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa who choose to use a lived name at UCSB will have the lived name included in their Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record. SEVIS records will continue to include the legal name as indicated on the passport. Students on an F-1 visa, the I-20 will list both lived and legal names. Students must disclose their lived name in all immigration and visa applications if it has been used officially at UCSB. Questions regarding how a lived name will be used should be directed to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).

Student Health (SHS) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

Starting February 26th, 2025, students who are patients at Student Health (SHS) and/or Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) must also update their lived first name* in their UCSB MyHealth portal. This lived name is stored separately for CAPS/SHS use only and does not have to match the lived name indicated in Identity Manager. For questions or more info, please refer to the Name and Gender Health Data FAQ or email equity@sa.ucsb.edu. 

*Pronouns, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation may also be updated in the MyHealth portal.

Student Employees

Students who are also employed by the university must also update their lived name information in UCPath.

Legal Name

Name or Data Change form

For more information on legal name changes, please visit the State of California Court's website.

All legal name changes must be accompanied by documentation of former and new legal name, including but not limited to:

• Marriage license
• Driver's licenses
• Court order
• Government-issued IDs
• Passports