Yesterday I had a discussion with a ts friend of mine, Susanna, who is about to start her HRT and RLE. She will get the recommendation letter for the name change right after the first meeting with the endocrinologist, but she said she will NOT want to change her name unless she is sure to pass as a woman. So she will wait until the end of the year...every now and then asking the opinion of the mirror. I think, a still better way to judge the own passing is to take digipics of yourself. They don´t lie, and say directly how you look.
I said, to my understanding it is a clever decision to hold the horses and wait with the name until you can really start your full time RLE and pass...at least more or less pass.

Laura