Keep or change my name?

Changed mine as part of new family set up... although it's more verbage now than before and it feels strange signing new name...

don't have any strong feelings either way, just changed everything in one go, passport, drivers licence, credit cards, work email everything... find it's a bit confusing if some people maintain both names...
some people like to keep maiden name which is nice, some people like to change (moreso for children's sake)
personally, it was just nice to be mr. and mrs. X - up to the individual to be honest
best of luck

paky wrote: »

do as your told

This isn't after hours, comments like this will result in infractions.

Geallta wrote: »

Think it'd be confusing for future kids if mum has 1 name & dad has a different 1.

It wouldn't be. They'd have grown up like that and there are a lot of kids out there whose parents have different names.

But you have other good reasons to change your name.

yungwan wrote: »

OP, do whatever YOU want to do.

There are no wrongs or rights.

If you want to change your name do, and if you would prefer to leave it for a while and then change, thats fine too.

ALot of people change their names personally but keep their own name professionally. I dont think it makes any difference either way.

I am undecided on what Ill do, but only because I havent really thought about it yet! Ill see what happens naturally. I expect I will change it, but not because of the child debate. I have a son from a previous relationship who will be keeping my name, and any kids we are lucky to have as a couple will have my h2bs surname. My son is fine with this and its all fine.

Dont read into it, do what suits you.

I actually believe that this is too important an issue not to really think about and have a strong opinion on, one way or the other. But I'm probably just saying that because I have a strong opinion...!

I didn't change my name, nor did I even consider it. I don't even think it's fair that I am even asked to consider it, to be honest, when the man in a marriage would never be asked to do the same.

My name is my identity and I'm not particularly keen on the idea of changing my identity just because I am now 'a wife'. And I just couldn't separate the modern tradition from it's patriarchal origins, and associations with 'ownership'.

When I was younger I thought I would change my name when I eventually married, so that we would be 'the smiths' (or whatever), but then as I got older I decided that wasn't a good enough reason to change my name. I mean, it's my name!! So when the time came it wasn't even a consideration. And I certainly will feel no less of a family if I don't have the same surname as my kiddies when the time comes. And if people still call us 'the smiths', I will realise that this name does include me!! Just like for women who do change their name, I'm sure they still feel part of 'The murphys' (i.e. their family of origin) even though they are now smith.

For those who say it will be complicated for the kids, a lot of my friends have mothers who kept their maiden name and they say it made not a single bit of difference in any way! (all those friends are now also going to keep their own maiden names). I'm also probably influenced by my own mother, who said that she changed her name because she didn't really think about it, and everyone else was doing it, but now really regrets it.

ABajaninCork wrote: »

I wanted to keep my maiden name for professional purposes, but be known by my married name informally.

That kind of blew up, as when applying for a PPS no., I couldn't apply for it in my maiden name as the Social knew I had married (I had to give them birth & marriage certs amongst other docs in order to apply). So now I'm known by my married name.

Can I still ask to be known by my maiden name, even though the PPS is under another name? Will it affect my tax, National Insurance and so on??

Sorry to hijack, but any help gratefully received...:)

Go double barrelled for legal stuff only!

Kensworld wrote: »

What would happen if a child with a double barrelled surname grows up and marries a girl who also has a double barrelled surname?

I wouldn't worry about that happening, you're more likely to have a problem if your OH is a football fanatic and wants to name his son after all the players on his favourite soccer team

I will be going double barrel officially for the legal stuff.

but will go by either name really. Work will be my maiden name but will be double barrel for everything else

I think I will keep my name ...I would just find it weird to become someone else??

Cathmandooo wrote: »

I'll change mine, although from researching hotels for the wedding and giving my fiancés name I've realised how many people struggle to get his surname right :eek: I'm walking myself into a lifetime of correcting people spelling my surname wrong, noooo!

I've spent my life spelling my surname and I'll continue to do so when I get married because people are stupid and can't spell a simple 4 letter name where 3 of the letters are the same. :rolleyes:

I don't really have any attachment to my surname. It's just a name. It doesn't define me. So I'll be changing mine because I want to.