On Thursday, February 11th, Linden Lab announced the release of a new selection of last names for Premium members as a part of the Name Changes capability.
As with other updates to the last names list, the release comes with the retirement of a number of the less popular names that had been on the list. The update also come on the heels of Keira Linden indicating during the February 2021 Web User Group meeting that the Lab were hoping to get some new names out in readiness for Valentines Day – and some of the new options could be said to reflect this.
Absinthe – Amore – Aviator – Blackwood – Bunny – Caboose – Dakota – Darkheart – Evergarden
– Incognito – Knickers – Nebula – Orlando – Suki – Venus
Of these, Amore, Venus, Suki (to like / have a fondness for) and Darkheart also appear to have the promised Valentine lean – and Darkheart itself was suggested at the Web User Group. All the rest are a more general mix, although I confess to finding Knickers and Caboose raising a smile, given their relationship to underwear and the human rear end – as such, a part of me is anticipating some more …. imaginative … pairings of these two names with first names!
Up until now, changes to the list of available names has been somewhat infrequent – this is only the second update to the list since the capability was introduced in April 2020. However during the Web User Group meeting, Keira further indicated that the Lab would like to issue updates somewhat more regularly – although how regularly had still to be determined.
In terms of how names are selected for addition to the list, this appears to be through the use of two main sources: names selected from the entries received during the 2019 Last Names competition (which saw several thousand suggested names submitted), and names selected by the Lab. Future lists might also see “normal” last names from the physical world added to the list, whilst there has been a suggestion that there has been some debate within the Lab about returning legacy last names to the mix, which had previously been rued out.
About Name Changes
Name Changes is a Premium-only benefit that allows Premium subscribers to change their first name, their last name or both their first and last name on the payment of fee (US $39.99 + VAT / sales tax, where applicable at the time of writing). Through it, users can opt to use any first name of their own choice, while last names are selected from a pre-defined list.
If you are unfamiliar with the capability, you can read more via the following links:
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 
… I hope that ‘Llewelyn’ doesn’t get discontinued!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s no plan to “discontinue” any last names. Essentially, the system makes last names available for a time (determined by relative popularity / use & the number of “new” last names to be added). When a name is removed from the list, it simply means it can no longer be selected – those already with it can continue to use it. However, it had been indicated that “legacy” last names (like yours and mine) wouldn’t be returned to circulation; but according to Keira Linden talking at the WUG meeting, there has been some discussion around the idea of opening them up once more – but these are only discussions.
LikeLiked by 1 person