How do you name your baby if you are not married ?

Question

Should I give my baby my last name, my fiancee's last name or both? What if we end up not getting married?

Answer 1

If your fiance agrees to recognize the baby as his, the baby gets his name.
If it isn`t the case, the baby should get yours.

Answer 2

My folks weren't married when they had me so I was given my mothers last name. They got married when I was 7 months old.Then they had to go through the legal paper work of changing my name to their last name.Even though they are both my parents and both their names are on my birth certificate they both had to legally adopt me. So just changing the babies name after you have it sometimes isn't that easy. This is something that you and your fiancee need to discuss and decide what you want to do. Good Luck and I hope you come up with a decision before the baby is born.

Answer 3

In most states you can change your baby's name for free any time within the first year, so if you are planning the wedding within the first year, then that could help your decision. Either way, though it doesn't much matter. Even if you were married for years and the baby had your last name you could change it at any time - it'll just eventually cost money. It might be easiest to do a hyphenated name for now and then you can always decide to drop or the other names. Good luck and God bless!

Answer 4

Traditionally the baby should get the fathers name.Putting your last name is almost sperating the connection of "carrying the family's name". If he's a good guy who's taking care of you and your baby,even if you aren't married,then go for it.And if for some sad reason you and your fiancee dont work out,then the baby will need some sort of support,(child support) and if there is no bad blood towards the father to take care of this child the namesake is the key to getting the support you will need. My husband and I married 9 years later of being in a relationship together.We now have five kids together,3 between me and him,two from his previous marrige who are permanently living with us now for almost 6 years.And even us being unmarried I still gave my children my husbands last name,and only his. Life throws alot of curve balls at you,if your not rushing marrige because of your uncertainty of this relationship,then tell the guy what your thinking and come up with a solution,if he's not mister right and is mean, jealous, controlling, and just awful,giving you a glimpse of things to come then realease yourself,and take care of your child and yourself the best you can.

Answer 5

I was in your shoes 7yrs ago. My daughter was born and her father and I were engaged so I didn't see any harm in giving my daughter his last name instead of mine. While in the hospital she stayed under my name for security reasons but her birth certificate has his last name on it. About 6 months after she was both we seperated and never ended up getting married. He still sees her but I do regret giving her his last name now. My suggestions would be to give the baby your last name until you do get married. When you go to change your name you can change the babies at the same time. I hope this helps.
Good luck!

Answer 6

The decision is up to you, but if it were me, I would give the baby my last name if I thought there was even the slightest chance that things could go awry with the wedding. When they call you from school to let you know your child is ill do you want them to call you by your last name or the last name that wasn't meant to be. Plus, the baby will have your last name and there will be no confusion there,

Answer 7

I'd name the baby with what ever your most comfortable with. You can always change it. If you would rather your baby your last name just in case you don't get married then go for that, if you do wind up getting married it's not that hard to change it. One of my friends moms did the same thing, she and her husband weren't sure if they were going to work things out, he has his moms maiden name but is changing it to his dad's and all it takes is a little paper work. There's not wrong answer to this. If you want him to have his dads last name even if you guys don't get married then go for it. Do what ever you feel is right for you guys, ask the opinion of your fiance. If you'd rather your baby have your last name (just in case you don't get married) then tell your fiance that when you get married that's when you'll change both you and your childs last name to his.

Answer 8

That's tough.

I know of people who used their boyfriend's last name and didn't end up staying w/ the guy.

Since you said "fiancee", I would feel confident w/ giving the baby his last name. You guys are serious about getting married, right??

Also, I'm assuming that the fiancee is the baby's father-- right??

Answer 9

Its a tough decision, but generally it is left up to the mother..
I was not married when my child was born, but I gave the baby the fathers name..
I also lived with the father and he would not have it any other way..so there are alot of factors to think about in making the decision...
We married when our baby turned 2,and are still together happily..

Remember , you could also use both names, hyphenated

Answer 10

If i were you, i would give him the fathers last name. IF he is a good father, and plans on being there for his child. Theres no reason not too. Even if you guys dont end up together and you want to get child support, the child will have his last name. Thats the only way to get child support as far as i know of. The father has to sign paternity stating that he has no doubt the child is his. So if he is a good person and you are planning on getting married someday, even if it doesnt happen. Keep him in his childs life.

Answer 11

give the baby his father's last name. That is only fair I think. Whether you end up getting married or not...well you should have thought about that before having sex.

I think you need to reevaluate your relationship. How can you say "my fiancee" and then in the next sentence suggest you might not get married?