Comments on: To change or not to change, that is the question

By: Jessica K

Jessica K — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:15:29 +0000

I took my husband’s name, and use my maiden name as a middle name when I sign official documents. As you said, it’s the name on my license and birth certificate and all that stuff, so I include it when I sign important things. I’m a pretty traditional girl, so I didn’t even consider keeping my name. I honored my family by including traditional names from them in my children’s names.

By: lynne

lynne — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:44:57 +0000

I kept my name, for professional reasons as well as the whole pride factor: I’m one of four girls so the name would not pass on. My kids have my husbands name; people who don’t know me professionally call me by my husbands name. I’m happy with the way it’s working! Although I read an article recently in which the author recommended everyone keeping their own name, and daughters take the mother’s name, and sons take the fathers name. I liked that.

By: Kelly Utt-Grubb

Kelly Utt-Grubb — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 20:44:28 +0000

You make some very interesting points! I am the creator of a new service that helps those choosing a last name and I’m writing a book that will serve as an all-inclusive guide to family naming.

I’ve found that the reasons for choosing one name or one tradition over another vary greatly from person to person. I don’t advocate for any particular “right” answer, just that the decision is made carefully. Last names have definitely become a choice rather than a given.

For me personally, my choice of hyphenation is about my own identity rather than keeping my father’s name. My husband hyphenated too.

I’d love to hear what you think about my work! Shoot me an e-mail AND take the online version of my name survey at http://www.TheNameSurvey.com.

All the best,
Kelly Utt-Grubb

By: Tina K

Tina K — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:48:33 +0000

I took my husband’s name. There was no question in my mind. I’m a traditional, old-fashioned kind of woman. I certainly would not have kept my name only to spend a lifetime explaining, yes, the kids are ours together, but I kept my last name.

Beyond those reasons, is the fact the I had little emotional attachment to my legal last name. I went by my stepdad’s last name growing up in school. It was not until I started working that I began to call myself by the name on my birth certificate. While I have relationships with both of my dads, both names have baggage for me. In the end, I am proud to carry the name of the man I chose.

By: Super Gentleman

Super Gentleman — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:46:58 +0000

LoL… ive been frens wif u for quite sum time d n i still DUNNO ur full name lahh… LoL… dun blame me yah… hehehe…

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:24:20 +0000

God, I should spell check.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:23:48 +0000

I took my husband’s last name, at the time, I didn’t even think about it. I still use my maiden name for certain things I write. I also used my maiden name when I graduated from college, because, I felt that my scholastic endeavours had absolutely nothing to do with his family, and those accomplishments were minee. I also did not change certain pieces of ID. That being said, a few years after I was using my dear hubbys last name, I did feel a sense of embitterment, not towards him, but just because it was like giving up my identity.

A friend of mine, made her husband change his name to her name.

So I waver between both names.