A Royal Navy recruit is changing his name by deed pole this week, in order to avoid banter in the forces.
Tristram Gay, 21, considers his surname too inappropriate for a professional life at sea - because he will be the butt of jokes from immature colleagues.
Tristram, of St James, Hereford, will become Tristram Fareel.
Speaking to the Express, he said: “In the Navy everyone is called by their surname so I would get a lot of stick with my name being Gay,” he said.
“It was different in the old days when gay meant happy.”
He said his choice of new name comes from a Johnny Depp movie.
“I was watching the film Blow and there was a character with the name Fareel which seemed perfect for me.
“I decided to change my first name too because although I am called Tristram people always call me Tristan.”