Comments on: The Name Game

By: Kalyn

Kalyn — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:41:07 +0000

I have a very common last name, so from the time I was a little girl I just assumed I would take my husband’s last name (presuming it would be more interesting than mine). However, I got married a little later in life and was faced with the decision of letting go of what seemed like part of my identity. But, the more I thought about it, the more the traditionalist in me took hold. I kept my maiden name for professional purposes and on the personal front I took my husband’s last name but kept my maiden name as my middle name.

By: MTM

MTM — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:52:16 +0000

I did what all the women in my family have done for generations, which is drop my middle name and use my maiden name as my middle name. What annoys me is that people assume that I am doing the 2-last-name thing, which I am not. I am more than happy just to be known as Mrs. M. I think more and more people are doing the 2 last name thing and people just assume. I am published under my maiden name though so I publish under that still.

By: Married

Married — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:45:09 +0000

When I got married I took my husbands name on my wedding certificate. When I went to the Social Security office I wanted to Hyphenate due to business and they said no problem. I was always told it had to be what was on your wedding certificate. Obviously not. Now I can be recognized at work and go by husband’s name at home.

By: LaPreghiera

LaPreghiera — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 22:51:18 +0000

I will hyphenate.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:40:32 +0000

I wanted to change my last name..so I did a few months after we got married.

By: Aisha

Aisha — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:53:34 +0000

Professionally, I hyphenate because I published research before we married, with my maiden name. In some way, I wanted to honor my parents who didn’t get as far in school as I did by making their name present in my work. When it comes to our personal life though, I chose to use his last name. By the way Aja, I married a Jackson too.

By: Karyn

Karyn — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:48:16 +0000

I waited until I was in my late 30′s to get married, not to mention I had an awful last name that no one could pronounce (& it was connected to my father who was never apart of my life) so sista girl here was more than happy to take my husband’s last name! LOL!

By: Dedra

Dedra — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:17:25 +0000

Before I married my husband I asked him what he thought about me keeping my maiden name and he was like “sure you can keep it”, but as time went on he didn’t like it so much. I don’t know why, but it’s a sore topic for him. I always remind him that I did ask him before we said “I do”. I’m glad I kept my last name, I was 32 years old when I got married and dropping my name would have made me feel as if I had lost something. I did drop my middle initial, but my father gave me his name it sounds good with my first name, futhermore my husband’s name complements it so well. I’m glad I kept my name and I’m happy to be Dedra Clark-McGee!

By: Golden

Golden — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:25:28 +0000

Though I really love my middle name, I dropped it. I added his name as my last, using my maiden as my middle. Now I am trying to get rid of his. LOL We have been divorced for three years. I kept it because we have a son together. I thought my son would have a hard time if we had different last names. He really can care less. If I had known I would have changed my name when I get divorced. And now my ex is about to get married for the second time since our divorce. But I have a professional career, advanced degree and a house in my married name – oh well – such is life…….But when I get that Ph.D I don’t want his name on it all

By: Crystal

Crystal — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:10:30 +0000

I added my husbands last name to my last name to give me two last names (no hyphen), but society including work has given me a hyphen. I wanted to keep my last name because it was important to me to have my father’s last name. Some people call me by my husband’s last name (only)and lots of people add the hyphen. I used to correct each and every person, but I’ve given up trying to correct people over the years. I know who I am and there are bigger fights to fight in the world than what people choose to call me. As long as they don’t call me late to dinner, I’m good to go:-)