From the article: Should You Change Your Name After Getting Married?
The decision to change your name, whether you are the bride or the groom, is one of the first decisions you'll make as a married person. There are many options available to couples when it comes to what names you'll use. Did you change your name when you married? Why did you make this decision? Share Your Reasons
Might Change It Later
- I didn't change my name for the simple fact that everyone in society does it. I go with the minority, that's how I know I'm on the right path ... However, due to an issue I've had with my brother's wife, keeping my maiden name kind of makes me want to puke. I think I will change it whenever I get around to feeling like I need a pain in my butt.
- —Guest sarah73
North Carolina Hell re Name Changes
- I shortened my name twenty years ago just to be practical (it was very simple), but I still wanted to use my grandfather's name (no love lost between me and my father) but North Carolina has recently gone out of its way to make it absurdly difficult, requiring two or more months for federal and state fingerprint changes, etc., etc. Can't wait to leave this stone age state.
- —Guest Ben
Changed Years Later
- I never wanted to change my last name after I got married. It felt to me like I was taking my husband's family's name (the in-laws), and at the time I wasn't too fond of them. Four years later I decided to change my name as a birthday surprise for my husband. He was so happy, it made his year. We've never been closer. I never felt pressured - it was completely voluntary.
- —Guest Hunni
Creative
- I took my husband's name when we were married 10 years ago, because I thought the only other option was hyphenation, which looks sloppy to me. I love my maiden name and the heritage that goes with it. My husband and I both do not like our last name. However, pressuring him to take my maiden name isn't fair at this stage. So we are taking our time and putting a lot of research into creating a brand new name. We can't take too much longer, though. Children are on the way, and we want to pin down a name before then.
- —Guest Eowyn
Name Change
- When I divorced my second husband, I took back my 1st husband's last name because of my carrier. Now I am getting married and will take my husband's name. How should it be on the marriage certificate. I know this sounds bad wanting the last name of my first marriage still connected but that is how I was also known. Editor's Note: What you want doesn't sound "bad" to me. Share with the County Clerk's office how you want your name to appear on your marriage certificate. They should be able to help you.
- —Guest tammy tiner
I Kept My Name
- Most people were fine with me keeping my maiden name. The one person who gave me a hard time about it was my father. He absolutely did not agree with it, and would not allow me to explain why I wanted to keep my name. And this was fairly recent, 2006.
- —Guest Pam
Not Always Easy
- I was working for an airline when I married, and would have had to pay for a new background check as well as new ID for the company and the airport. It didn't make sense at the time. But 12 years later, now that we have children, I am thinking about hyphenating for the kids. (Hubby never did mind ... he knew I was independent when he married me!)
- —Guest Autumn
Yes -- Then Changed It Back
- When we were first married, I changed my last name to my husband's last name. But years later, as I began developing my professional identity, I went back to using my maiden name for business purposes.
- —Guest Teresa
