when you marry should you hyphenate,take his name ,keep your name?

Question

some cultures combine both family names and i don't think that they are less serious about their vows

also consider if you are an only child, it may be important for the woman to keep that as part of her name

Answer 1

oh i am the keep my name it mine why should i brand my self with his name i feel like when you take his name it like saying they own you i love my last name i am proud of my last name and i am keeping what is mine my last name why doesn't the guy take the girls last name really i mean most of the time the guy is asking us if we want to marry him so shouldn't he also take are last name, oh and another thing that drive me nuts after the wedding when they say now we have Mr and Mrs Jon doe when did you loose not only your last name but your first and become him really

KEEP WHAT IS YOURS.

Answer 2

Depends.

If you have your own kids, and they are not his, you might want to keep your old last name so that you'll have the same name as your kids. Or hyphenate it.

If you are a teacher, or work in some other position where you are commonly known by your last name, you might choose to keep your old last name or hyphenate.

If your new last name and your first name just plain sound goofy together (like, you can't keep from laughing) you might want to consider keeping your old name or hyphenating, or at least using your middle initial as well.

I know a lot of people in Hollywood will either take the new name or hyphenate, but everybody still calls them by their old last name. Like, when Jennifer Aniston was married to Brad Pitt. I think she may have officially been Jennifer Aniston-Pitt, but nobody called her that.

It's a very personal decision. Consider your relationship to the family whose last name you have. Me, for example. I have my father's last name, not my mother's. I haven't talked to him in years. When and if I get married, it is not important to me that I have my father's last name.

Answer 3

stop trying to be ms. modern / independent and go the traditional route

take his name -- it is meaningful and shows him, his family, your family and the rest of the world that you are united in all ways

you will create akward situations when you are introduced and people will not be sure if you are married (plus it looks retarded when married women do this... don't you have enough confidence without boldly showing that you can be incharge and demand to keep your own name... congratulations, you keep "Smith" but lose respect from your Mr. Jones and all others that respect tradition)

What last name will your children have? If they take the father's name you will have all sorts of problems proving you are the mother when you have to take them out of school etc....

I say all of this b/c all of my "cool, strong, smart" women friends finally adopted their husbands names when they had kids or when the realized how lame they were being -- the only two I know that did not ever change was b/c they ended updivorcing within two years.... you're either in this all the way or not

Answer 4

It is a choice and a reflection of your and his commitment to one another. Marriage ideally is 50/50. If you take his name and he takes yours too...all you have to decide is which one comes first (sounds better).
You also have to consider your family lineage...if you are the last one in your family that will carry the name-sake. Your name may be long and that of any children you'll have...but at least they will learn most of the letters in the alphabet! lol

Answer 5

I am very independent, I would want to keep my last name. Out of respect for whoever I end up marrying, I would probably just use a hyphen.

Answer 6

You should plan on taking the vows serious and taking his name.

Answer 7

It's a matter of personal preference. I didn't because it would have been way to many letters. There wouldn't have been enough room on paper. I've noticed more people doing it nowadays, though.

Answer 8

Whatever your little heart desires =)
Hyphenate or not, atleast take his name...don't keep your last name exclusively.

Answer 9

Take his name.

Answer 10

When I get married I'm taking my husbands last name!!!