Why I Said NO to a Name Change After Marriage

This post is so powerful. I married right after law school and became professionally known as my married name. 6 years later, I divorced, and even though I had no children at the time (which brings additional considerations), I did not want to disrupt my career nor my life (credit cards, acquaintances, passport, drivers' license, etc.) by changing my name. Plus, I had grown to identify myself by my "new" name - not by my maiden name. Some 16 years later, my daughter's father has questioned why I didn't change my name back. I love your commentary on how it is our choice (and there is no wrong one) and observation that we take the brunt of the whole situation.

I've been married less than three months. This is my second marriage and the first one ended many years ago. When I was married the first time, I took my husband's name, and when we got divorced I went back to my real original name, vowing to never change it again. My new husband and I had this conversation and we decided that we would both keep our original name, but add the other one's name after so we kind of match. He is Charles S. A-L, and I am Marla L. L-A. I am proud of my heritage and he is proud of his. We are happy with our new names and our new marriage. It was interesting reading the other replies.

I changed my name when I got married. I didn't have a strong attachment to my maiden name. My husband is Hispanic and I am white, so it does sometimes confuse people that I now have a Spanish last name. Ha! I once had a Fed Ex guy look at my signature, look at me, then say, "You married to a Spanish guy?" I laughed out loud. Anyway, we now have two kids, one looks more like me than the other, so I'm glad for safety sake and clarity that we all have the same last name.

I am German and married to an American. I wanted to keep my name out of sheer laziness and to keep my family close in a way while building a life abroad. But my hubby asked me to take his name in a more commemorative way than when he proposed so I couldn't say no. :)

I did not have a middle name and moved my maiden name into that always empty box and happily became Mrs. X.... I was also a tad paranoid that Immigration would somehow scrutinize the validity of our marriage more if we had different names. All is well, no regrets and the paperwork wasn't that bad... :)

Oh and... unwanted ghosts of the past can't find me that easy on social media :)

I believe in the union of marriage between male and female. To me marriage is a oneness separated only by the personalities each one brings to the relationship.

If, being united as ONE, what is the problem with taken on your husbands last name; it can be hyphenated with yours also. I guess I am just to old fashion for most people. I don't believe education, beauty, money, and social statuses should play a part in this if you got marriage.