Changing maiden name to middle name

Can you keep your middle name, and add your maiden name as a second middle name? That's what my mom did (and what I plan to do) and it's worked out fine for her.

I'm not 100% sure as I haven't asked, but I would imagine so given that they allow me to change my middle name. I'm not 100% sure I want to do that though, just because I feel like it could get confusing when filling out forms where there is only space for one middle name. Plus it would be kind of long lol. It would be Summer Lxxx Rxxxxxxx Mxxxxx.

But I haven't completely ruled it out given that I think that would probably resolve any identity issues I'd have with new license or anything else.

I don't have any experience with this, but I would keep your birth certificate, marriage license, social security card, and name change certificate (or paperwork, I don't know how that works) all together for when you may need to prove your identity for travel or things of that nature. If you have all of those documents organized and kept together, then I don't think you would have an issue.

Hmm, I didn't think about the paperwork they will give me at the SSA office. I assume they give me some form of paperwork when I do that. If not, I will ask for it just in case lol. That may be the simplest resolution and I hadn't even thought of that!

You are in KY!? ME TOO GIRL!! I am worried about the same thing! I wanted to keep my middle name instead of my maiden name! Let me know how this goes because I want to do the same thing! This is a concern I didn't think about!

Hi, Lauren! Good to see another KY girl on here! :-)

If you are only changing your last name, meaning your middle name will stay the same and you are only removing your maiden name entirely, you shouldn't have any problems as this is the "norm." It only becomes a potential problem (according to the clerk's office) if maiden is changed to middle because that means the only similarity between my birth certificate and updated documentation will be my first name. The SSA office said it isn't a problem for them, but with the new "real ID" coming out soon, they suspect it may be an issue since they're pretty stringent about it.

View Quoted Comment As far as filling out forms with 2 middle names, it isn't a big deal. Either you need an initial (use the first) or there is typically enough space to write both. My daughter has 2 middle names.

I'm in NC but I just got my REAL ID this week and I asked the DMV about name changes after marriage. He said to get my new social security card in my married name before I come back tot he DMV, and to bring my birth certificate and marriage license. If your birth certificate shows your maiden name, and it still appears on your new social security card as your (now) middle name, I don't see why they'd have any problems "linking" your old name to your new name.

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YAY for KY girls! Oh gotcha!! That makes sense! Thanks for the information! I hope it doesn't prove to be a problem for you!

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Thanks for your input! That is good to know! My niece has two middle names and I never thought to ask how that works on forms/legal documentation. I thought maybe you just had to pick one or the other and stick with that across all legal documents.

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It seems like there wouldn't be an issue. I'd imagine the individual reviewing the documents could put two and two together and realize how my name became reorganized. The clerk just seemed overly concerned, maybe because they don't fully understand how it works, either. Who knows!

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You're welcome, glad I could be of assistance!!

And thank you, I hope not either.

Congrats on your engagement and marriage! Very exciting! :-)

I know soo many people who have dropped their maiden name so it can’t be too hard! I would just take all your paperwork and be patient with the offices.

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Thank you very much

2 points:

First point: I love the idea! My FH's middle name (Walsh) is his mother's maiden name. He's always thought it was super cool and I think it's really sweet. It's a nice idea for you as well, especially when the names flow nicely

Second point: A few years ago, I requested a duplicate birth certificate because my mother lost mine (sigh). My original said "First Middle Last". When I received a new birth certificate, it said "First M. Last". I said, where is my middle name? The clerk replied, "well this is a legal document, it looks like you don't have one anymore, you have a legal middle initial, you can pay to change it back if you want." WHAT. A lot of my stuff didn't end up matching when I got the Real ID in NY, and it didn't seem to matter, maybe because at least the middle initial was the same as my (former?) middle name. No one seemed very concerned about the Real ID process whatsoever. I think you should do whatever you'd like, and not really worry about the paperwork! There are unforeseen paperwork debacles all the time anyway, and I would say to just go with your name preference

View Quoted Comment If she can only use one, she uses the first one, but it is very rare.

I kept my maiden as a second middle name for my first marriage. I’m removing my ex married name and replacing with my FH name this time and keeping my two middle names 😊. I am an RN and changing my license was a pain but otherwise i didn’t have a lot of problems except not enough room on forms lol

I kept my full maiden name and tagged on my husband's last name with a hyphen. It can present a few problems here and there but overall it hasn't been a huge problem.

I'm curious if you ever got resolution on this? I'm from Illinois, and even though changing your middle name in Illinois has historically been fine, a few people at the SOS office have also told me that this might be an issue. I don't want to change my name with Social Security and then have an issue once I try to change my ID. Thanks for your help!

Any resolution to this issue????? I’m facing this too and want a Real ID