Changing your last name? Why/why not?

I am changing my last name and my maiden name will become my middle name. I just like the idea of my FH and I having the same last name. 😊

Yes, I am going to change my last name, because he is my husband, my covering, & I am proud to bear his name, I am becoming his wife, and I’m honored to bear his name.

I grew up in a Spanish speaking household and our tradition is not to change our last names. I have two last names already. Not going to explain in details as to how do we carry or get to have two last names but luckily mine are not ugly and not common. Also, I have a close and great relationship with my father and there are no boys in the family. I have been married before a never crossed in mind to change my last names. I’m soon to be married for a second and last time and will not change them. It’s my identity. It’s who I am. I don’t think I can do that switch. The only way that I would consider changing my names is if my maiden last names were super common.

I am making my maiden name my middle . If you don’t want your maiden name around, then add the FH name. I heard if you do change it - keeping your maiden name as your middle helps in the process of alllllll the places you have to update info with.
You also could keep your middle but also add your maiden to the middle and have two middle

Yes I'm changing my last name.

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What a great tradition! I love the idea of a strong family line that you can carry on with your identity!

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Do you know why it makes the process easier? I have no idea how hard it is to change, I just know you have to go to social security first and then your license, credit cards, etc.

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I do like the idea of us sharing a name... that’s kind of my reasoning to do it if I decide to after all.

Hey Suzie! I got a notification you asked how changing your name makes it easier.

I haven't changed my yet, but for the sake of explaining, let's pretend my name is Jessica Swan. My new last name would be Jessica Davis. I was told that if I make my maiden name my middle and go by Jessica Swan Davis that any place that has my information will have an "ah ha" moment and know it's me and not think twice, for example "who is Jessica Davis?" Instead they'll see, "Jessica Swan Davis" and no trouble because they have on file that I was recently Jessica Swan. Whether or not this is actually true, I have no idea. I was just told it makes the switch easier if your maiden name sticks with you.

I did/will change me name. i'm waiting to do so for after the honeymoon since it's all under my maiden name, but i will be changing it for everything. i had just always planned on changing my name, i have no real significant attachment to my last name. we are also going to have kids, so i want us all to share the same name.

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Ah, I see what you mean. Thanks!

Changing my name! I am so happy that I get to marry my FH (we have been together for 6 years) that is reason enough for me, plus I think his last name is neat

I never considered for a moment that I would change my name. It's my name. I didn't want to be Mrs. Him or Mrs. Anybody. I wanted to be an independent person, however married. So I didn't change my name, no one cared, and that has been pretty much that--for 35 years, now.

I am keeping my last name even if I've never been fond of it. Too many kids made fun of it when I was little (and they still do) and it's hard to pronounce. But I've never thought twice about not changing it. I've spent years growing and refining myself with my last name. I have lived with this name and I will die with this name. If my husband feels no social obligation to change his last name to my last name, I don't see why I should feel obligated to change mine.

We live in a heteronormative society and wedding planning pushes this reality on you even harder. People (guests and non-guests) are already calling us Mr. and Mrs., even writing checks out to us in this way (PS you cannot easily deposit these checks in some banks, by the way). They're already replacing my last name with his. During planning, we had to correct this language so many times with the vendors.

I am not a Mrs Anyone. I am me.

No, jus adding it on. I'm still keeping my father's name

Absolutely!! I will be proud to carry my husband's last name. We are one in every way down to our last name.

I will probably take my FH's name. I will have had my maiden name for 54 years when I get married and would like to change it. However, my new last name will be Crow. I teach 5th grade, and my current students make crow noises when I talk about getting married. My last year's students tell me they're still going to call me by my maiden name because that what they've known me as. I will start the new school year with my maiden name and come back with my married name after fall break. My other choice is to hyphenate.

I’m changing mine. I have no attachment to my dad but I have been using my mom’s maiden name since their divorce. I debated hyphenating but I would rather take my FH’s last name and be Mrs Varley than using a longer last name that won’t match my kids. And I’ll still take Garcia as my second last name, legally.

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Yes, this is so true about society! I hope we don’t have to deal with this as we go - sorry to hear you have been! Thanks for the heads up!

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Darn kids lol. They will find something in any name... Crow sounds like a cool last name!