Changing your name or hyphenating?

Original post by surfersgirl

Sep 09, 2007 08:37 PM

well, I have been debating what to do about my last name for months and months. I am 33 and have been teaching for 12 years...so I am pretty attached to my last name. Plus I am the last girl in a family of all girls to get married (and so there goes the family name).

I feel like I would like to maintain my name and keep my 'identitiy', but don't know if the hyphenating would be just a big pain in the butt.

Any suggestions?

surfersgirl Posted: Sep 10, 2007 04:52 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Well...I think I will hyphenate, and socially use the my FH's name and at work use my maiden name more. By hyphenating, can you sorta use either, or do you always have to use both?

MyLobster Posted: Sep 10, 2007 05:13 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Posted by DeannaNDave07

im changing all the way!! i cant wait! i hate my last name..lol

I was thinking the same thing! Although, it's going to be really really strange to have a different name. My name is what identifies ME. Now I'm changing it? That is going to take some getting used to!

tiggsnme Posted: Sep 10, 2007 05:51 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I hyphenated. My medical degree is in my maiden name and it's too hard to change all the licenses. I also agree about the identity issue. I'm 34, so I've had my name for a loooong time and I like it because it's who I am and makes sure people know I'm Italian (I have an Irish first name). I'm going to an Irish last name, so I feel like I'll lose some of my heritage.
The licensing bureau told me that I only have to use the hyphenated name on legal documents like tax returns and I can use either name for anything else.

danniegirl Posted: Sep 10, 2007 06:43 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Tempting...

cncoso Posted: Sep 10, 2007 07:22 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I LOVE my last name. But it means alot to FH that I take his name so I am willing to do that. It's just so strange thinking after 31 years my name is changing!!!

july06bride Posted: Sep 10, 2007 09:38 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I hyphenated my name. I socially I am Dhs last name-at work most people refer to me as my maiden name since that is how they know me, but some of the newer kids who didn't know me call me by DHs last name.
I felt strongly about keeping my last name- I am an only child- I am Italian marrying an Ecuadorian and although I am 100% proud to have my Dhs too- I wanted to keep my name too- hyphenating was the best of both worlds for me

empressdani Posted: Sep 10, 2007 09:40 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

i'm using my maiden name for work and using FH's for personal everyday use. I work for a city agency and clients may need to reach me far in the future so it'll make it easier.

eta: grammar...been a loooong day!

teenigrrl Posted: Sep 10, 2007 09:56 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I'm most likely going to hyphenate. I keep going back and forth. Ideally I'd like to keep my name, but FH wants me to at least hyphenate. The compromise - when we have kids, their last names will also be hyphenated should I decide to hyphenate. I really like that idea. If only FH would hyphenate too!

jcruz124 Posted: Oct 05, 2007 08:59 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I am going to hyphenate

Kara and Todd Posted: Oct 05, 2007 09:15 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Only you can make this decision.

I personally changed my name -- still getting used to it, though.

It's totally up to you. Give it some thought and decide what you truly want. You can hyphenate legally and use your married name socially -- or whatever you want to do.

amytee Posted: Oct 05, 2007 09:19 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I'm using his!

fujamaga Posted: Oct 05, 2007 09:31 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I'm not sure what I want to do either. I just finished graduating law school and started work so I guess there isn't as much 'reputation' to hold on to, but its still kind of hard to pick.

FinallyEngaged Posted: Oct 05, 2007 09:52 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Posted by surfersgirl

well, I have been debating what to do about my last name for months and months. I am 33 and have been teaching for 12 years...so I am pretty attached to my last name. Plus I am the last girl in a family of all girls to get married (and so there goes the family name).

I feel like I would like to maintain my name and keep my 'identitiy', but don't know if the hyphenating would be just a big pain in the butt.

Any suggestions?

I am in a similar boat as you in the respect that there are no boys in my family, so there goes the family name!! But it is not like I can give my last name to my children, so i decided to change my last name.... it took a lot of thought process, but in the end it was for the better.....

MrsG2007 Posted: Oct 05, 2007 10:06 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I have my family last name and marriage last name....I just hyphen it...other than it being a pain in the butt to write..because we both have long last names...I'm happy I kept my last name..

bluegreen08 Posted: Oct 05, 2007 10:40 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

Posted by tbone66

I am almost 33 and have been practicing law for over 7 years and I felt the same way that you do. I decided to hypenate but will be keeping my maiden name for all work related things. I hypenated so that I have the option to use FH's name and to avoid confusion, etc.

NWR but i love your avatar -- one of my cats LOVES laying in the sink :)

KK Holiday Posted: Oct 05, 2007 10:47 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I am changing my name. The way I look at it the name is my father's name. And growing up means leaving your parents and starting your own family. So I'm going to take FH's last name.

Rejjie Posted: Oct 05, 2007 10:49 AM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I'm changing my name. I would keep mine if it had some meaning or something, but it was an Ellis Island random change situation, and I don't even like it. Plus, FH's last name is my grandmother's maiden name, it actually has MORE meaning than my last name. It's a little annoying, though, because my name will now be exactly the same as one of the characters on a famous TV show.

melonhead Posted: Oct 05, 2007 03:09 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

i am taking his.
i get to keep my initials, LP, which is what some people call me anyway....

i never considered keeping my name. I will be proud to take his name and make little ones, too!

FH has no relationship with his father's side, and his mom and sisters have a different last name, so it will be like we are starting our own family name.

LP

Charlies Angel Posted: Oct 05, 2007 04:34 PM

Re: Changing your name or hyphenating?

I had the same feelings as all of you, I felt like giving up my 'birth' name meant losing my identity. I did cave in in the end because my husband sat down with me and expressed to me how much it meant to him.