I was just curious why a woman is expected to change her last name to her husbands names why not the other way around.
2006-11-27 04:58:13 · 15 answers · asked by Jessica F 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Marriage & Divorce
Sure. Had a good friend who married a guy. His last name was Loogie. They took hers.
2006-11-27 05:05:55 · answer #1 · answered by ladyren 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can change their name, regardless of being married. And I've known at least one couple where they took on a hyphenated version of both their last names.
A name change in general just takes some official paperwork and notarization (and I think a quick review in court, to change the birth cerficate and SSN identification).
Since women routinely change their last name upon marriage, from what I know, you just start using your new name and signing your new name on all of your paperwork and credit cards, etc. To change items such as yoru SSN, you will need a copy of your official marriage certificate.
While it's true that there has been a patriarchal slant on name changes at marriage, I think it does make sense logically to keep the pattern consistent (whether it's always the woman's name, or always the man's name), so that you can track genealogy easily.
Another problem, this time with hyphenated names: Which last name does the child take? Already, a hyphenated name is longer than the average name. What if the child wants a hyphenated last name when they get married? Now they literally have FOUR last names (all separated by hyphens). Some sort of pattern has to be installed in order to make sense of everything, or who is related to who can quickly become confusing and impossible to sort out.
Finally, I know that there are women who do actually seem to enjoy taking the husband's last name, because it's a sign of the validity of the relationship and of her being truly connected to the man she loves and is committed to. More women tend to feel this way, than men, so that's probably one reason why the tradition has persisted.
(So, I guess it's to each her own.)
2006-11-27 05:10:12 · answer #2 · answered by Jennywocky 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes, a man can change his name upon marriage, but it's not very common. It is done, at least occassionally in the United States.
Also done is for both parties to hyphenate their name. "Wexworth" and "Smith" both become "Wexworth-Smith". A newer option is for both parties to mutually agree to create a new name out of elements of their old names, to symbolize their new family. "Gallagher" and "Bowman" could become "Galman". This one is not very common yet at all.
As for why a woman is expected to change her name, is because of English tradition. Most of the former British colonies (including the US) follow English tradition in this case. But it is not world-wide tradition. When my family moved overseas (to southern Italy) for a few years, my mother discovered it confused the locals that she and my dad would have the same surname. Were they cousins or (gasp!) siblings??? So she went back to using her maiden name while we lived there.
Every culture is different.
2006-11-27 05:09:54 · answer #3 · answered by Elise K 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tradition mostly. But I know some couples that married and the women never changed her name. But yes, a man can change his name. As long as both parties agree.
2006-11-27 05:01:33 · answer #4 · answered by Deana S 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Look outside the box. It's not HIS name. It's not HER name. "Our" names are somebody ele's names that were placed upon us.
We can call ourselves whatever we want.
I didn't like my name when I was a kid, because I didn't get a middle name. I took a middle name on when I was in High School. I never made any legal change. I just added it. Social Security even gave me a new card with the middle name on it. I paid nothing to anyone to do it.
2006-11-27 05:18:45 · answer #5 · answered by Leo F 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Anyone can change their name at any time. Doesn't have to be through marriage. And the reason that women usually take the man's surname is because it is traditional.
2006-11-27 05:01:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I dont't know where the tradition came from but my friend Tracy had her husband to be change his last name to hers. Anybody can change their name at any time for a small fee.
2006-11-27 05:00:38 · answer #7 · answered by Mommy of 3 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is tradition, and it probably stems from the past when a man owned his wife. Anyone can change their name to whatever they want regardless of marriage.
2006-11-27 05:01:50 · answer #8 · answered by manderso750 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well the girl can decide if they want to change their name to his last name...well i have yet to change mine..i want to but i haven't got around to it yet...but my cousin jus got married not to long ago and he changed his last name only bc he did not like his last name so it's possible...i guess it's jus a traditional thing for a girl to change her name...but the guys can do it too..
2006-11-27 05:04:03 · answer #9 · answered by BurgNavigator 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yesm he can. I knew a man who changed his name to his wife's family name. It greatly pleased her parents. They are Japanese and he is Canadian--I don't know if culture played a role in the decision.
2006-11-27 05:04:33 · answer #10 · answered by Gallifrey's Gone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋