I was going to change my last name but realize that at work, my career is based on my reputation which is based on my madien name. All my licenses are in my maiden name, etc.
As a compromise I thought about keeping my maiden name professionally.
Has anyone done this/ I wanted to know if it's more confusing this way. I can't decide if it's easier to just keep my name or change it in every aspect expect professionally.
Any thoughts, comments?
B22
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
I know PLENTY of people that have kept their maiden name for professional purposes. It's very common.
D's Girl
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
I am doing the same, leaving my maiden name Professionally
hmpena
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
You can definitely keep your maiden name professionally. Lots of women at my job do. I changed my name but everyone still refers to me as my maiden name.
HollyMac
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
But did you go though all the name changing paperwork for your driver's license, etc?
GinaZ
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
I think it is a good idea to keep it professionally if people know you by your name. People do ti allll the time. Im probably changing my last name, or making my maiden name part of my middle name or something like that.
GinaZ
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
Posted by HollyMac
But did you go though all the name changing paperwork for your driver's license, etc?
you will have to in order to change your name to your husbands legally. When you keep it professionally I dont think you haev to do anything as far as changing it at work. but Idunno how this works with pay checks. Hmmm.
Kara and Todd
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
Posted by HollyMac
I was going to change my last name but realize that at work, my career is based on my reputation which is based on my madien name. All my licenses are in my maiden name, etc.
As a compromise I thought about keeping my maiden name professionally.
Has anyone done this/ I wanted to know if it's more confusing this way. I can't decide if it's easier to just keep my name or change it in every aspect expect professionally.
Any thoughts, comments?
How do you plan to change it legally and continue to use it professionally? People can still call you your maiden name, but you cannot get paid under a name that is not your legal name and you can't hold a professional license in a name that's not your legal name at least as far as I can see. You have to change your name with SS to change it legally and your legal name has to be on your paychecks, tax forms, health insurance, etc. A better option for you may be to use your maiden name socially, but to legally and professionally keep your maiden name. The name on your driver's license has to be your legal name, too.
I want to change my name, which will mean changing my bar registration, etc. People at work will just have to get used to my new name, too. But this is how *I* personally want to do it. You should do what works for you!
I know several lawyers who kept their maiden name legally and professionally, but socially outside of work they go by Mrs. married name.
Pinkiegirll07
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
I'm planning on keeping my name for professional reasons, but I'll still change my name on my license, etc.
ali120206
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
Posted by hmpena
You can definitely keep your maiden name professionally. Lots of women at my job do. I changed my name but everyone still refers to me as my maiden name.
Same here!
I've worked here 8 1/2 years so it's going to take awhile to get people used to it. It hasn't affected my reputation professionally (and I work with a number of different people in the company in different locations) but, it was a pain to get my email address changed, and it was a pain because we've had temps in the mail room and one guy just didn't get it - I was getting mail for departments that started with the first three letters of my last name that aren't located in NY...
Kara and Todd
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
Posted by Pinkiegirll07
I'm planning on keeping my name for professional reasons, but I'll still change my name on my license, etc.
But as I see it, your paychecks, HR forms, tax forms, etc. all have to go to your legal name, though. If you want to change your DL, you have to change it for your SS#, which means you have to use that for tax, benefits, etc.
Or do you just mean you'll let people at work call you by your maiden name?
I'm curious to see if anyone responds who changed their name legally but still uses it professionally. (Only for curiosity's sake, as I plan to use my married name at work - people will get used to it)
portjeffbride
Posted:
Member since
Re: Last names.. change or not?
name recognition is also important in my field.... This left me keeping my name professionally, but legally having FH's... which would be messy becuase while authorship of articles would remain the same, my paycheck, and other honorariums I receive wouldn't... since they go by a person's legal name.
FH understood (same occupation as me) how sloppy that would be and actually encouraged me to keep my maiden name. It's all fine. the kids will have his name
