On the topic of name change....

Question

Who hyphenated their maiden name and married names? Are you glad that you did? I'm thinking about it...

i.e. Sara Brown-Smith

Answer 1

I wanted to hyphenate my name, but my fiance hates the idea.  He wants me to have his last name totally.  I personally don't care too much for his last name because along with my first name, it sounds fictitious.  If I were to hyphenate my name, it would be better for me to keep in touch with people who may not know that I got married.  I think I will still try to pitch it to him again.  I totally respect him and don't want to go against anything he doesn't agree with, but this is one I'll pitch again and if I lose, so be it.

Answer 2

I hate hyphenated names on principle.  I work as a bookkeeper in law firm with more than 2,000 active clients, and I can't keep everyone's names straight when they do stuff like that.  Then they get mad at me if I don't have the "right" married name.  Anyway... hyphens are so complicated.  I dated someone with a hyphen.  No one can keep these things straight.

Personally, I am completely changing my last name.  No hyphens or feminist "I want to carry on my own family name" junk.  

Answer 3

my aunt did it. and she was very pleased.

It wasnt hard for people to stay intouch with her.

Answer 4

I didn't hyphenate, but I still have my maiden name. I've made it a part of my middle name. So, if I was Patty Elizabeth Johnson and I married into the name Leighton, I'd be Patty (first name) Elizabeth Johnson (middle name) Leighton (last name). My initials would be P.E.L (from P.E.J.). Our children will retain my last name as part of their middle name in the same fashion.

Answer 5

I personally didn't do it.  Was glad to get rid of a name that no one could spell or pronounce for an easy name.  

My comment though is that if you do hyphenate it be consistant with it.  I work with the public and too many times women will say the married name only and of course their file is located under the hyphenated name.  So I can't find them even though they have been coming here for years.  So if you hyphenate always hyphenate.  Let your husband know you hyphenate as well, too many times they too will only state the married/his name not the complete legal name.  

Answer 6

This is a good option for those who don't wanna drop their last name completely.  

Answer 7

I would prefer to keep my maiden but my fiance wants me to take his, so I think the compromise is to hyphenate. It kind of makes me mad, though. Why should I have to change my name for him when he has told me he has no desire to change his?

Answer 8

I almost wish I would have.  I dropped my middle name and replaced it with my maiden name. I write it out ALOT, even five years after our wedding.