Q: I changed my name a few months back. Can I request journals where my papers have already been published to revise my name in the author byline?

Thank you for your question. 

Yes, you can certainly request journals to make these changes. Name changes are a fact of life, and journal publishers are increasingly recognizing that authors may need to retroactively change or amend their names. Please note, there is no universal name change system, and journals are not required to offer name changes. While not every publisher has a name change policy, they are becoming commonplace, particularly among big publishers like Taylor & Francis or Springer Nature. 

Typically, you first need to have completed your legal name change. You should then contact the editorial office of each journal where your papers have been published and provide them with documentation verifying your name change, such as a copy of your legal name change certificate or other official documentation such as a driver’s license or passport. They will then usually update the author information accordingly. It’s a good idea to provide specific details about the papers in question, including their titles, publication dates, and any other relevant information to facilitate the process.  

It is also helpful to include other information that should be changed besides the name. For example, if your pronouns have changed, please notify them of instances where your old pronouns were used. If your email address has changed, it should also be amended. It is also helpful to point out places where your initials were used, such as the Authorship section. Finally, let them know if your name should be changed in any supplementary files. 

Please note, these changes may not necessarily be reflected in other sources. For example, some online databases may take time to update your information, or may not update your name without an explicit request. In such cases, it may be worthwhile to approach them and request a name change, although there are no guarantees that they will perform this change.