Anyone have trouble parting with YOUR last name?

Here is my personal take on the last name thing...Im keeping my last name. Its not that my last name is soooo cool or that my career is so associated with my name that I can't....honestly I have just kinda grown attached to my last name and dont want to deal with the hassle of changing it. I always thought I would, when i was younger, I thought my last name was dumb, BUT as I got older I just didnt see the point in changing it. My son and I have different last names, and I think I would rather just stick with the last name I have.

My FH and I had a long talk about it and he just wants me to be happpy and could care less what I do with my last name, so no name change for me. I believe in femanist values, BUT think name changes due to marriage is such a personal choice. Whatever you do, make sure you make the right choice for YOU

I think those of you who are having doubts, talk to your FH and ask him, truly, what he wants and why. He might not really care what you choose!

For my writing, I'll keep my maiden name since it's what I am published under. For everyday, I am taking his name. For legal documents...I adding my maiden name as man additional middle name so will be the longest name EVER!

I'm going to miss my last name, but I'm taking FH's last name because I'm sure he would be upset if I didn't. And I'm pretty traditional anyway.

Honestly, I can't imagine changing my name on marriage! Even if I didn't have the professional reasons I do for keeping my own name, I don't want marriage to wipe out my history. I've now had this name for 58 years, and I intend to keep it as long as I live.

No problem here - I have siblings who are carrying on the family name. I changed back to my maiden name after my divorce 35 years ago so it will be a little strange changing it to FH's last name but I am ready for it!

I am excited to change my last name. I took back my maiden name after my divorce 9 yrs ago.... something I have regretted for several years since I had two kids with my ex. I was just so dang mad at him at the time and did not want his name. Now I have two kids with FH and my two oldest kids and I don't have the same last name as any of them.

No way! My current last name is my ex husbands, I didn't change it in the divorce (dumb) but I cannot wait to have my FH's last name!

I don't want to change my last name. It's hard to change after having one name for 33 years. Although I haven't fully decided, I am 80% sure I'm keeping my name. It's a different name and I've never met another, we're a family of all girls so our name won't go on, and I have a daughter with my last name. But, I know that FH would like me to change it. I have a couple months to decide.

I'm not changing my name. My FH is totally on board. We already have two children and they have his last name - it's never been an issue having different names. I'm an older bride and lean toward the nontraditional plus my last name is very distinctive which helps in my industry. It was a no brainer for me.

This was my first post

I'm having a hard time with dropping my last name. I have no idea what I'll do. Thankfully I still have a year to think about it! My fiance says he doesn't care if I take his last name or not, but I want to...but I also want to keep my last name. I might hyphenate.

I can understand why that'd be hard for you. I'm sorry for your losses, Ginny.

I'm going to take my FH's last name. I have two brothers and a male cousin on my dad's side, so it's not like my last name is going to die with me or anything, but I'm still having issues. It's more of an identity issue with my first name than anything else. Right now I have a one syllable British last name. When people read my first and last name, they typically pronounce my first name as "And ree ah" without me asking them to. That's going to change when I take my FH's last name (it's very Spanish). We live in Miami, a city where there are a ton of people of Spanish descent. So, I need to get used to people calling me "On dray ah". Also, I really need to perfect my Spanish because I'm pretty sure that when people read my name on my work website that they'll assume that I'm a Spanish point of contact. Oh well.

I'm not changing my name. I have no desire to change my name. I don't have children or a professional career to take into consideration. I just find the practice archaic. I am not becoming my husband's property. Tradition be damned, this is who I am, this is where I came from. I don't see the point in changing my name to his. I find it to be an outdated practice. But that's just me! =)

I am having no problem with it. Mainly because I have the last name of one of my brothers fathers. It's not my biological, or my step fathers, or my grandfathers last name.. so I just want to get rid of it and all the baggage with it. Bleck!

I'll be getting a very common last name. It's a good one though.

I understand where you are coming from with not wanting to let go of your maiden name. My dad was the only boy in his family. He only has a few male cousins with the same last name as him and they pretty much all had girls except for like two of them so basically my last name is dying out. My dad had two girls so neither of us are going to carry it on

But on the other hand, I am excited to get my new last name and my initials aren't changing so that's another positive.

LOL @ Patricia J. That put a smile on my face. I too don't have a problem with dropping my last name. I can't wait to take on my FH's lastname.

@ Ginny -I know it's difficult for you to let go of your name. I'm sorry for your loss as well. I have friends that have kept their maiden name. Some spouses have a problem with that and some don't.

Have you spoken with FH about this to see what he thinks?

I am keeping both, since my children before marriage have my last name.

I am keeping both, since my children before marriage have my last name.

I'm keeping my last name, I'm trying to convince my FI to drop his and take mine. he won't, but I'm definitely keeping my last name.

I won't be changing my last name. In fact the country FH grew up in women can't even legally change their name. Also we live in NY and from what I have seen a lot of women do not change their name, I'm sure a lot has to do with people do get married here a bit older than the average and most are rather established in their careers.