Two Middle and Two last names?? Ugh!

I was born with 5 names that were all so long I didn't fully learn to spell them until I was 9 lol! So! I have been married twice before and neither time did I change my name just to keep it simple and honestly I had the cooler last name than either. As an author, it would be advisable to not change too much about your name, but maybe add his name to your list of middle names and then you can choose which version of your name to use, depending on the situation? My current fiancé and I decided that I might just change my middle names to his and then I'd have his last name as my middle name, but overall we're not to pressed about it b/c he is also a published author on Scientific papers, he's a musician with a following as am I and I am a painter. In the end, just my opinion, the relationship is the more important aspect and in these days we live in, the names are not quite as important as they once were. I even have a male cousin who when he got married changed his last name to a last name from her family that died out with the last relative with that last name bc it was a maternal last name from her great grandparents. So! to bring that name back from family members that had an impact on her life, they both now go by that last name that was new to both of them. Just my thoughts and good luck with your choice! I am sure it will be the right one

Ditch the hyphens because Social Security doesn't recognize them anyway and will only allow you so many characters. My opinion: if royals can have a million names so can we.

What about changing your last name and just using your maiden name as your authors name?

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. Think about celebrities, I have a feeling their "brand" only uses their famous name, but legally (in terms of the SSA and IRS) they've changed their name to be their partners last name, just like non celebrities do.


Keep your authors name as is and change only your last name legally

That's one of the reason's I use a pen name--it definitely worked out when it came to changing my last name!

View Quoted Comment

Another vote for this! Continue to use your maiden name professionally, but change it socially and for tax purposes etc!

I am adding my FH's last name to my name so I can continue going by my maiden name for professional purposes - I've been with my company for 10 years and people know me by my name. I don't want to lose that! (I also have two middle names, but that's another story) So my name will be First Middle Middle Maiden Last. It is a lot, but not the end of the world!