Triton Student System (TSS) Update:
Please note that the information on this website only applies through the end of Summer 2026. If you are a student with access to TSS, please use the following webpage to learn about Lived Name in TSS, as well as other aspects of the 'My Personal Details' application in TSS: Managing My Personal Details in TSS
Information for current students through mid-October 2026:
You may choose to enter a lived name, including first, middle and last. If you enter a lived name, access to your legal name is restricted. This change is in accordance with the University of California’s Gender Recognition and Lived Name policy.
Lived name shall now be used in all places where legal name is not specifically required including the VAC, TSS, WebReg, class rosters, campus ID cards, and in most other systems where you will interact with the university.
Legal name will continue to be used for things such as generating bills, within TritonPay, on 1098T documents, on refund checks, and for insurance and financial aid.
To enter or change your lived name and review your name settings, visit the Social Identities Tool. Please note that any changes entered into the Social Identities Tool will not carry over to TSS. Please visit Managing My Personal Details with TSS for steps to manage your lived name preferences in TSS.
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How do I change my lived name?
It’s easy! You may log into the Social Identities Tool and change your name at any time. Changes to your lived name can take 24-48 hours to appear in some campus systems.
How do I change my legal name?
May I indicate a personal pronoun?
You may indicate a personal pronoun in the system via the Social Identities Tool. Personal pronouns will display on class rosters and in Find-a-student.
The default list of pronouns from which you can choose is as follows: He/Him, She/Her, They/Them, Ze/Hir, Per/Per, or your name. You can also specify a custom pronoun or multiple sets of pronouns via the custom pronoun choice.
Where will my lived name appear?
Lived name shall now be used in most systems, including the VAC, TSS, WebReg, on class rosters, on campus ID cards, grade entry systems, student class listings, Academic History, campus reports, TEA, Canvas, the TA hiring app, and in most other systems where you will interact with UC San Diego. Physical mail and email from the university will be addressed using your lived name.
Where will my legal name still be used?
Legal name will continue to be used within credentialing systems as needed, by mail processing services, to generate bills, within TritonPay, on 1098T documents, on refund checks, and for insurance and financial aid. You may elect to have your legal name still be used on official transcripts and diplomas even if you have declared a different lived name.
Does lived name include last name, as well as first and middle?
Yes, you may enter a lived first, middle and/or last name.
May I use a mononym as my lived name?
Yes, you may use a mononym (e.g., a single name such as "Aristotle" or "Madonna") as your lived name.
What characters can be used in my lived name?
The following characters can be used in your lived name: A-Z, a-z, 0-9, dashes, spaces, periods, apostrophes, and parentheses.
Does my lived name need to match my official documents such as driver's license or passport? Do I need to provide documentation to change my lived name?
No, changing your lived name does not require any documentation, nor does your lived name need to match your official documents. However, if you are using a lived name significantly different from your legal name (such as a different last first and last name) you will want to make sure that the lived name is printed on your campus ID card and that you have that ID card available to you when you are doing an activity where your identity must be verified by the university (such as taking a proctored exam).
I already have a preferred first and middle name, do I need to reenter my lived name?
Preferred first and middle names have already been converted to lived names, using the legal last name as the lived last name. If you would like to update your lived last name, you may update it in the Social Identities Tool.
What if I do not have a lived name? Am I required to enter a lived name?
You are not required to enter a lived name. If you do not have a lived name your legal name will be used.
What name will appear on my official transcript and diploma?
If you declared or changed your lived name on December 6, 2023 or later, then any official transcripts and any diploma ordered after this date will have your lived name by default. You can review and change this setting on the Social Identities Tool to request these documents be issued in your legal name instead. Please update this setting before ordering your official transcript, and prior to the end of your last class for diplomas.
If you declared your name prior to December 6, 2023, then your documents will continue to follow the older rule by default, and your legal name will continue to appear on your documents unless change this setting or enter a new lived name on the Social Identities Tool.
May I get my Campus ID card printed with my lived name?
Yes. Information about getting an ID card may be on the Campus Cards page. Please note there may be an additional charge. Campus ID cards are printed with your lived name by default, but you may opt to have it printed with your legal name.
If you are using a lived name significantly different from your legal name (such as a lived first and last name that do not match your legal first and last name) you will want to make sure that the lived name is printed on your Campus ID card and that you have that ID card available to you when you are doing an activity where your identity must be verified by the university such as taking a proctored exam.
Can I change my university email address to better match my lived name?
Yes.
Contact IT Services with inquiries about setting up an email alias or making changes to your email.
Can I change my university username to better match my lived name?
Yes.
Contact IT Services with inquiries changing your username. However, please bear in mind that changes to username take time to propagate in some university systems.
I am both a student and a staff member, will my lived name be changed in all systems when I change it on my student record?
As of now your lived name in the student systems and in the employment systems will be managed separately. You may update your lived name in employment systems via UC Path. Currently lived names entered via UC Path are not currently propagated automatically into student systems. If you are an instructor and need to change how your lived name will look in students systems, you may update it via the Social Identities Tool. If you are an instructor who does not have access to a student account, please email your request to academicrecords@ucsd.edu.
UPDATE: As part of the transition to the Triton Student System (TSS), there is an important update to how instructor names will appear in student-facing systems. Details are available in the campus notice linked here.
I am an instructor and would like to have my lived name displayed in student systems - how do I do this?
Unfortunately, lived names entered via UC Path are not currently propagated automatically into student systems in most cases. If you are an instructor who would like a lived name to appear in student systems, such as class rosters and in the course catalog, and you have access to a student account, then you may update your lived name in the Social Identities Tool. If you are an instructor who does not have access to a student account, please email your request to academicrecords@ucsd.edu.
UPDATE: As part of the transition to the Triton Student System (TSS), there is an important update to how instructor names will appear in student-facing systems. Details are available in the campus notice linked here.
Will changing my lived name impact my financial aid?
Due to regulatory requirements, UC San Diego will continue using your legal name for processes related to financial aid.
What name will appear on my billing statements and in the authorized payer system?
Your bill, authorized payer systems, refund checks, 1098T, and TritonPay will continue to use your legal name.
By what name will I be addressed on my mail?
Physical mail and email from the university will address you by your lived name.
Who will have access to my legal name?
One of the main features of this lived name implementation is that legal name is now protected at a higher privacy level than before. Only staff members with a legitimate educational interest in legal name will be able to access your legal name, and it will only be displayed in systems where it is specifically required.
Is there a limit as to how often I can change my lived name?
No. However, please bear in mind that changes to lived name take time to propagate in some university systems, and frequent or numerous changes could create unforeseen issues with keeping our systems updated and in sync.
I am an alumnus and would like to have my diploma reprinted with my lived name - how can I do this?
If you would like a replacement diploma under a different name, then you must submit an order for a replacement diploma after you have updated your name in system. Under the document fee, students may get their first replacement diploma at no additional charge. If you have already received your first replacement diploma, there will be a replacement fee. Information about ordering diplomas this may be found on the Degrees/Diplomas page.
Is there a policy basis for this change?
I have heard usage of the terms “lived name,” “preferred name,” and “affirmed name.” What are the differences in these terms?
On a very basic level these all refer to the same concept: a name that an individual goes by which may be different than that which appears on the individual’s official government documents. UC San Diego implemented what it called a “preferred name” in 2019, which included first and middle name but still displayed the individual's legal last name. The University of California then created a policy which required the UC schools to implement what was referred to as a “lived name” in all systems and restrict access to legal name. Recently California passed AB-760 Public postsecondary education: affirmed name and gender identification, which refers to “affirmed name.” Another term that is sometimes used is “name in use.” For the sake of clarity, we will be using the term “lived name” or simply “name,” with the old terminology of “preferred name” being deprecated.
What if a university staff member or faculty refuses to use my lived name or personal pronoun?
What if I see my legal name being used in a place where it should not be?