Should I change my name?

Question

I'm getting married next June. I'm wondering if I should keep my name or switch to my future husbands last name. It's seems like such an outdated idea. I have a daughter from a previous relationship and she has her dad's name. I don't want too many names in the house. I've discussed several options with my fiancee such as changing his last name to mine, making up a new one or hyphenating. He is fine with whatever I do, but he isn't changing his name.

Oh, my daughter and I have different names. She has her dads and I have my maiden name.

BTW, I'm not afraid of having to change my name, it's more the fact that its out dated. Also, the idea of changing his name is apparently an idea that many people adopt. It's not my idea, I've read about it at many places.

Answer 1

It really is a personal decision - there's obviously no law that requires anyone to do one thing or another. I never changed mine, I like my name, and simply don't see why take a new name that doesn't have the same significance for me. My mom has never changed hers, and it's never been a problem. It depends what is important to you, and what significance you attach to your or your husband's name. From the purely practical standpoint - it makes absolutely no difference.

Answer 2

You can do what you feel is right, but I like the idea of you changing your name to his last name. This is not for sexest reasons. I just feel that we should keep some of the traditions from the past. You can be a strong independent woman and still carry your husband's last name.

Answer 3

Traditional girl here....I would hyphenate with your current last name and you new last name. Such as Smith-Jones. To ask a man to change his last name to yours is crazy. That means he would have the same last name as your ex. Too weird for me.

Answer 4

Hayley Williams

Answer 5

Honestly I think you should take his last name. Why not? Eventually your daughter will get married and she will have a different name and then you will be stuck with a different name than everyone in your family!!! Take your hubby's name, men like that!

Answer 6

If he changes his name, just go ahead and castrate him with a butter knife, because he is not a man! If you change your name to his, then that will only be two different last names in the house. Not that big of a deal these days with the high rate of divorce. I THINK YOU SHOULD JUST CHANGE YOUR NAME TO HIS.

Answer 7

I hope he changes him name to yours. He will then never EVER live it down with his guy friends. You might as well strap an apron on him and point his little butt to the kitchen too.
Just change YOUR name..... It's not old fashioned; it's what a wedding and starting a family is all about. If you're not willing to change your name, maybe you are not ready for marraige.
I would hesitate to marry a girl who would not take my name.

Answer 8

I say you change your name to something completely different. Some character from some movie or television show, like Indiana Jones.

Answer 9

My personal opinion is that you keep your last name the same as your child's. My mother kept her last name the same as mine and I certainly appreciated that as I grew older and didn't have to explain why my name was different than hers.
You could still hyphenate your name....but make sure your child's last name is part of it.

Answer 10

Change it. If you don't, you'll have three names in your household. My opinion is that if married people have the same name, it's easier to feel like you're on the same team.