Baby's Last Name?

Question

Does your child have to have the last name of either parents or can you give them any name you want?

I live in Ontario, Canada if certain laws apply.

I'm asking because my last name is Williams, and because it's so common, I want to give them something different. And I really hate the idea of giving children the fathers last name just because it's the traditional thing to do. I also plan on never marrying.
And also because I'm a shallow and superficial person and want my kids to have pretty and unique first and last names. =)

Answer 1

In The US you can name your child anything you want (last name)

Answer 2

"And also because I'm a shallow and superficial person and want my kids to have pretty and unique first and last names."

If you are soon to be a parent you make want to rethink the above quote.Your going to be a mom. You need to set your selfishness aside and think of your child.
If you don't want to give your baby their fathers last name which I truly believe is the right thing to do. Then maybe think about hyphenating your names. Williams-fathers last name or fathers last name-Williams.
Just seriously think about it. This is your child's future. I agree with some of the other answers that your child will feel hurt over not having the same last name as either parent.

Answer 3

How sad for your child that you chose to give them a "shallow,superficial name"..............

Who cares how common Williams is, it's not so common that EVERYONE has it. Giving your children a name that is not a family name (yours or their father's) has absolutely no meaning, which your children may interpret as "they have no meaning". Legacy is what life is all about NOT trend.

Chose a nice, unique first and middle name and give them a proper last name.

mb

Answer 4

From what I understand you can name your child what ever you want. Though it does make it easier to give the child either the father or mothers last name, just makes things easier in life. Why would you want your child to have a different last name than yours?

Answer 5

Give your child your last name. Once the kid goes to school having different names than yours will really mess things up.
If you want a new last name, change yours then give the baby that name.

I don't think you can legally give a child a random last name

Answer 6

Odd question to ask.You should check with your local government about this.


Why wouldn't you want them to have one of your last names.

Kids today have it rough enough without having to explain why mom's last name is
Smith, dad's is Jones and the kids name is Brown.

You can choose to make a combo name from the 2 last names or use the mother' last name or hyphenate the 2 last names

Here is an article I would like to share with you which is pertinent to your question

http://lifestyle.msn.com/familyandparenting/babyandpregnancy/articleab.aspx?cp-documentid=789123

Answer 7

use your own last name. you will run into trouble all your life trying to explain why the child has a different last name. i would not have appreciated my parents choosing a different last name b/c i would have maybe felt like i wasn't part of the family, you know? anyway, if you chose a different last name, say "smith" then the child's teachers & others who know you through your child would start calling you "mrs. smith"

(my sister has this happen all the time since she is divorced from her baby's father & has a differnt last name than the baby.)

Answer 8

My daughter and her husband plan on a combination of their last names. She never bought into the whole "taking his last name" BS. She retains her own after 6 yrs of marriage. They want their children to have their own identity. They do plan on all the kids having the same last name just a combined one!

Answer 9

I like the idea of giving your child both of the parent's last names. It jsut seems respectful to both families. Or if you decide to use the father's last name, you can use mom's maiden name as the middle.

Answer 10

in England - the child has to have one of the parents surnames - and to ahve the fathers surname if the parents are not married, means the father has to go with the mother to register the birth and have the name on the birth certificate. After marriage - either parent can go to register the birth

Answer 11

From my understanding you can give your child any name that you want. I know a couple who combined their two last names into a whole new last name for their children.