Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

Just curious. I am 38 and although I want to change my name to his I feel that at 38 I have established myself. I am only giving myself two options (1) hyphenate or (2) just take his. I dont have a middle name so hyphenating should sound ok. He wants me to just take his. If we have a child (hopefully) they will have his name either way.


I agree with you totally - i too am an 'older' bride who has established hereself. So i hypenate

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

That is weird, how in the world could that be illegal I know lots of people who have done this.......hmmmmmmmm very strange, I better go warn some people.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

we taled abt it & Fh did not have a pro with it.

All my dregress are in my name - so i dont want to lose that connectivity

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

NYCHICK - I agree - keeping your maiden name as your middle name seemed like a good compromise but apparently you can be refused at the Social Security office.
I would not advise anyone to ask them when they go however. It seems most do not know it is illegal and will do it for you. Once you ge the Social Security Office to go along with it - everyone else will do it too.

I know lots of people who have done this but there was a Wall Street Journal article last month about the headache of changing your name and they confirmed that it is no legal to keep your maiden name as your middle name.
The woman in the article didn't change her name when she got married but decided to do it later (had not changed it on marriage certificate). She had a choice to go through a legal hearing witha judge in a court room or get married again to the same person (easiest way to change your name apparently)

I put my husbands name on my marriage license but never changed it legally. I still can't decide what to do.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

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Posted by LIPrincess00

Just curious. I am 38 and although I want to change my name to his I feel that at 38 I have established myself. I am only giving myself two options (1) hyphenate or (2) just take his. I dont have a middle name so hyphenating should sound ok. He wants me to just take his. If we have a child (hopefully) they will have his name either way.

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I'm 36 and no middle name either! But i am taking his name. By establishing yourself, I assume you mean in your career? For me & work, it really is not an issue. As much as I feel I will always be a 'my last name', I guess I'm traditional and changing of my lalst name signifies and new chapter in my life.

I never considered hyphenating. And I am more adamant about NOT having a middle initial since I haven't had one all my life!

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I go back and forth on this. I def. want his name but am thinking of making my middle name my last, since I don't have a middle name. But, his name has 13 letters!! It's really long. Mine has 8 letters.

I have to start practicing signing all names to see how it will feel. If my hand feels like it will break off after every signature, then I will probably just stick with his name.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I am taking his last name. I couldn't hyphenate it cause our last names rhyhm!!! Already hear that enough :)

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

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Posted by VickiC

Why don't you do what I did, move your maiden name to your middle name and add his as your last name. I don't have a middle name either, so this worked out perfectly for me because I didn't really want to give up my maiden name at all, but yet I wanted to take my husband's name.

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This is what I am doing also. I have a middle name...but I'm going to drop it.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

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Posted by luvsun27

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Posted by MegLehner

I wanted to keep my last name too - but FH got really offended . I didnt think it was that important to him but it turns out that it is. Does anyone know if you can have your diplomas changed to reflect your 'new' name?

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I believe you can. My firend is a doctor...she had to change her medical license and med school stuff. She said it was a PITA! Good luck.

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I wanted to have my undergrad / grad degree(llm) / law degress & Phd (someday ) all in the same name.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I plan on taking FH's name and I want to keep my middle name -

I have noticed many women who are married and who changed their names when they send out business letters or deal with clients simply sign and use FIrst name, maiden name, new last name -(even if they didn't change it that way legally) because they didn't want to hyphenate and this way their business associates know who they are.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I took his name

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

Changing it all the way! I have wanted a new last name since my parents divorce!

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I had, and for the most part still do, intentions of taking his last name. But the more I think about it, the more reluctant I am to give up my last name. I haven't done anything incredible in my career to use that as an excuse, I'm just not crazy about giving up a part of my identity. My parents have no sons so it's not like they have anyone else to carry on the name, but on the otherhand, even if I kept my last name, our children will have DH. I will probably bend in the end and just go with his.

Re: What is everyone doing about changing their names?

I am taking his name!