How many women keep their maiden name, add husbands when married?

Question

I am getting married in about 2 1/2 weeks and have been debating with myself whether I should keep my maiden name. I would keep my maiden name, maybe as a middle name since I dont have one, and just add my fiances last name. I wouldnt hyphenate either. I just want to see how many women are doing this and age range. I wouldnt really tell people that I kept my maiden name, I mean they could still call Mrs. His last name. But just down on paper and stuff I would have it be my name, lastname and husbands last name. And I am not doing this because I dont think we will be together forever, if I thought that I wouldnt be marrying him! I am doing it because to me my last name is very important, I love it, its me, and I could care less about tradition in this case. So how many women out there have kept their maiden name and added husbands? How do you feel about it, are you happy with it?

Answer 1

My husband and I traded names. I took on his last name and he took my maiden name as his middle name.

Answer 2

I have maintained my maiden name by law in my husbands native country. There the woman retains her last name. To me it's just something I have to explain once in a while. I think in this day and age when so many things are allowed you should talk to the man you are marrying and see what he thinks and then consider what you want to do. If it's no big deal to him it would appear that you could do as you pleased. To me my husband's last name became mine and my children never had people question wheither mom and dad were married which is one of the downfalls of the loss of some traditional ways.

Answer 3

I made my maiden name my middle name, and took my husbands name. I don't sign the whole thing though--it's too much (I have a long name anyway), but I sign "first name, maiden initial, married name." It's worked for over 19 years for me.

I think you have to do what makes you comfortable. Women have the freedom now to do whatever with their maiden names, and I have friends who have done just about everything. It's really up to you. Congrats on your upcoming marriage! Good luck!

Answer 4

I did exactly what you are planning to do. It is certainly not an insult not to take his name (that is crap...this is 2007, not 1907!!) I have an advanced level degree and worked professionally before I got married and was known by my Maiden name before I got married. I wanted to keep my name as a tribute to my parents and for professional reasons. Just because he is a man, why should I give up my name??? I am my own person beyond my marriage. I sign all of my checks, documents etc. with my full name (First, Maiden, Married) In fact, on our mortgage, I insisted that the bank use my full name and they said it was not necessary...I insisted because that is my name!! Like I said, just because he is the guy, why should we give up a family name? Yes, I am very happy with my decision.

Answer 5

I don't see why the bride shouldn't keep her maiden name plus her new last name. That is really up to you. I have an older sister with 6 last names,no I'm not joking. She has been married and divorced 6 times! her last name is as follows: Stone,Justice,Spears,Varney, Davis,Spears. I do not talk to this sister because I got tired of being invited to weddings.
My Wife is still using her last name (+ mine) and it never bothered me. When it comes to naming the kids that was a different story. It's better to walk hand in hand with different names than walking alone. Best wishes.

Answer 6

I think it's a great compromise. I moved my maiden name to my middle name and took my husband's last name as my own. I'm the last in my family, so it meant something to me to keep my "identity." I'm still known as Mrs.Hubbyslastname. I'm glad I did it. I feel like I kept part of my family's name going a bit. My husband supported it, and didn't really seem to have any issues with it. I'm also 24.

Answer 7

i FELT THE SAME.. I am proud of my last name and it is a part of me so my husband totally understood. he didn't like the idea of not taking his name at all so i added his and it is heiphenated since i do have a middle name. People do this all the time especially women in the governent. good luck and do what makes you happy . your honey will understand. after all you are who u are! i'm 23 been married for 4 years

Answer 8

I kept my maiden name and don't use my husband's name at all. However, if people address me as Mrs. Husband's last name, that is okay with me. But on paper, I use the name I was born with and I like my name, too. We are not going to have children so that is why it works for me.

Answer 9

Hi, I live in Spain and my husband is Spanish.
We got married here and due to the Spanish law, everybody keeps his own name.
By the way, Spanish people all have double names, the first last name is the last name of the father and the second last name is the one of the mother...
Sounds strange, really, but here it´s normal...
I don´t feel anything special about this. It´s just names!!!

Answer 10

I choose not to use my last name as my middle name, I left my middle name as it was given to me and took my husbands last name. There are many women who give up their middle name and use their maiden name in its place. There is nothing wrong with that and I see as personal preference.