The last names of Newborns in America??

Question

Does anyone else think that when a baby is born if the Parents aren't married the baby should automatically get the last name of the mother? The reason I believe that this should happen is because I work at a hospital and 9 out of 10 babies have the last name of the "father" yet he isn't in the picuture any longer. And then the mother has more then one child with differnt guys and each baby has a differnt last name. Its crazy!! I mean at least if ur married it makes it Legit. But there are so many single mothers out there and why force child to carry the last name of his loser father?

Maybe we should make it easier to change your last name.

Answer 1

It does make some kind of sense. Some of them do it with the intention of marrying the father, and then it never happens. My son carries my last name, when I get married, I will hyphenate his last name and include that of his step-fathers. I DO NOT plan on having ANY more children without being married because several children with different last names really does sound pretty bad.

lol. It becomes like a pre-credit check....Do all the lady's kids have the same last name? Four kids? Four last names? Must not have a good track record for being responsible...trash that application.

Answer 2

Yes, I think the baby should always take the last name of the mother. What if the father really isn't the real father...so now this baby has his last name? Or if the mother wants to do the honorable thing and get married, but the guy says no. Screw that...the baby should get the mother's last name.

Answer 3

it's the moms choice and traditionally the child carries the FATHERS name. Many moms do give the baby their name many don't. I see you point i have a child who has a different last name then the rest of the family. Children are supposed to carry on the fathers family name not the moms especially BOYS. I know where your coming from but, it's a mom's personal choice I think it has nothing to DO WITH YOU./

Answer 4

My son has his father's last name, but we're planning to be married in the summer of next year. I know someone though, like you mentioned, who has three kids, is single, and there are 4 different last names in her little family.

I don't think that it should be an automatic thing. I think that the mother should be able to choose. And if later on she realizes her bad judgement, she can have the name changed.

Answer 5

For single mothers i would advise their last name cause the "father" took off,he shouldn't have any honor in having a child carry his name. but each to their own.giving the poor child his last name gives him rights to the child,which often tears the child in two.Having to deal with step-mom,and moms new bf's. But how are a few folks like you and I gonna change all those peoples minds who do it for the money? All we can do is pray.

Answer 6

I worked at a doctors office and you are correct. People would call to make an appointment for their child. We ask and your child's last name? Some get rather pissy and say the same as mine! Yet we had patients that every child has a different last name. If I were one of those moms I would want all my children to have my last name. Kinda makes it hard on the child as they get older. Might as well say "I guess my mom is was a slut"

Answer 7

I am with you on this one! They should have the last name of their mothers--carrying the last name of the loser father is not only a tragedy, but it is also complicated if that baby say has, oh, five brothers and sisters with different last names as well. Simplify!

Answer 8

My daughter has her father's last name and we were not married when she was born. I wanted her to have my last name (and still want her to) but since he took me to court to get joint custody of her the judge made me give her his last name. I don't think that is fair since he has absolutely nothing to do with her and now she has to carry his name and she wonders why mine is different from hers! That's a damn judge for ya!!

Answer 9

I had my first child with a loser and she does have my last name...my second child is with my husband and she has his last name. My husband does plan on adopting my first child and giving her his last name. My husband has been there for my first child since she was a month old.

Answer 10

It's the mother's choice what she puts on the birth certificate. She could have put her own last name. She may have put his last name because she is planning on having child support assigned to him.