The St Kilda player formerly known as Wilkes officially changed his surname to his mother's maiden name, Maister, on Wednesday.
"It's a personal decision that I have been thinking about for a while," Maister told the Saints' website.
"I just felt now is the right time to change my name. I feel strongly about the decision I've made.
"The paperwork went through this morning so now I can focus on footy with the NAB Cup just around the corner."
Maister becomes the second current-day AFL player to undergo a name change mid-career.
Hawthorn defender Brian Lake changed his name from Brian Harris while playing for the Western Bulldogs, just before Christmas in 2007.
Perhaps the most famous AFL name change came in 1999, when star Geelong midfielder Garry Hocking changed his name to 'Whiskas' for a week, in a deal with a cat food company.
The Cats, struggling with debt at the time, received $80,000 as part of the sponsorship, and Hocking $20,000.
The stunt worked, generating international headlines.
Maister played 10 games in his first season at St Kilda last year, after crossing from West Coast, where he made 23 senior appearances.
