"My 'plan' is to give myself a new first name and make my current first and middle names my middle names (I hope that makes sense)."
@@@@ Then that would then give you *two* middle names, and some people already think that even *one* middle name may be a bit much these days. :)
"The question is do you guys think that that is a good idea?"
@@@@ Yes, I think it's a good idea for you to change your name. A name change can be a Rite of Passage -- especially when your old name is causing you so much difficulty in your adult life.
"...and do you think that my parents would be upset? (since they took the time to name me)"
@@@@ Well, you know your parents better than we do. :) But if they're like most parents, yes I think they may be a little bit upset. On the other hand, you're an adult now, who goes to the pharmacist on his own to get his own prescriptions. YOU are the one who has to deal with how the world perceives you. It's not your parents who have to deal with this.
You can preserve some of the names your parents originally gave you, and also not encumber yourself with *two* middle names, by doing this:
Put both "Will" and "Lindsay" together and then anagram them.
You will then get: "Willis Dylan" or "Dylan Willis" for your new name.
You haven't made that big a change, and you've essentially kept the names your parents originally gave you.
Plus, you've learned something about the cool art of anagramming. :)
-- Nanaea