What is the Mx Title, and How is it Used?
The gender-neutral, gender-inclusive label “Mx.” has been used for decades, yet few people understand it. Mx. replaces Mr., Mrs., Ms., and other gender-specific honorifics. Those who don’t identify as male or female use it before their complete name or surname. This blog will discuss the Mx. title and how it should be used.
Mx Explained
Mx. has been around for decades and is a gender-neutral designation for non-binary people and others who prefer not to be labelled. Like Ms, Mx. is gender-neutral for marital status. Mx. is gender-inclusive, while Ms. is for women. The Mx. title is open to transgender, cisgender, binary, and non-binary people.
Different pronunciations of Mx. include:
- Mix
- Mex
- Em-ecks (spelt out as m-x)
The History of Mx
Anecdotal evidence suggests Mx.’s originator is unknown, but the title has been used since the 1960s. A 1977 Single Parent short story was the first to use the term. The word was first used online in 1982 in a joke about deleting all gender-identifying titles.
Facetious or not, the piece garnered attention, and many people appreciated the notion of employing Mx. One researcher claims that the first person to use the Mx. title online seriously cross-posted multiple remarks in UK newsgroups highlighting its potential in an inclusive society.
Mx. gained popularity in the early 2000s among trans and genderqueer Brits. Many typical drop-down forms have the title by 2013. Mx. was favoured by over 31% of 2019 gender census respondents and is increasingly utilised in media, literature, and official documents.
Will Official Institutions Recognise Mx.?
The UK leads official Mx. use. Royal Mail, driving licence offices and most significant institutions offer Mx. The Department for Work and Pensions, the National Health Service, HM Revenue and Customs, utility retailers, councils, insurance firms, and UK academic institutions acknowledge the term. The UK House of Commons stated in 2015 that MPs accept Mx.
Changing Your Title to Mx.
No deed poll is needed to use Mx because honorific titles are not legal names. Name changes require deed polls, not titles. Use the title in any way you choose.
You can request that any relevant organisation change the title in their system. Married women who become Mrs. can request similar title modifications for free—no reason to consider the title change controversial.
If you would like to change your name, contact deedpolls.co.uk.