Using two surnames as a male...

[TeamEponine]

I was wondering if anyone knows about the legalities of using two different surname as a male.

Lots of women use two separate surnames; one professional (maiden name) and one personal (married name). However I've never known of a male doing something similar.

When DH and I married I kept my name for lots of reasons, and he always said that he wanted to change his surname to mine. However, for long and complicated reasons, he can't fully do that yet.

He does, however, want us to have the same surname, and it struck me that many women have two surnames, so why not a male?

What we want is for him to use his birth surname for the "legal" stuff (passport, house deeds, bank, etc) but to use my surname for work and day to day stuff.

A complication with him using a different name at work is that he is regularly DBS checked and has to be accredited by his professional society. I'm not sure this would be possible if he had two different surnames?

Eventually he will fully change his surname, but it can't happen yet.

Does anyone know if this would be legal, and how we would go about doing this?

Thanks

[MrsBertBibby]

Assuming you're in the UK, you can call yourself whatever you like as long as you aren't trying to deceive.

Although I suspect work might struggle with a different name on the payroll from the one in daily use.

[TeamEponine]

Yes, we are in the UK at the moment. So he can just tell work, etc that he has changed his name, and live with two parallel names?

I really thought it wouldn't be possible!

Maybe he needs to talk to his employer and professional body about it.

Thanks!

[MrsBertBibby]

Definitely talk to the professional body as there may be issues there.

[Terrifiedandregretful]

Surely women do this all the time so I can't imagine there's a problem. The laws aren't going to be different for men and women.

[TeamEponine]

That's what I would have thought, but I've never known a male to use two names in that way. I know a few who have taken on a double barrelled name, but not two separate names.

[ClaraLane]

It depends on the professional body - I work in the NHS and our nurses and doctors have to practice under the name registered on the NMC or GMC website. They can't be registered under one name and practice with another. Could he just change it for everything else except work?

[TeamEponine]

Work is one of the main places he'd want it changed for. He'd want the same name for practice and the body, so everything work related in one name and that is what he would want to use on a day to day basis. That would be different to his passport and bank account though

Do you know how a dbs check work with two names? Do they allow for an alternative name on the forms?

[CotswoldStrife]

Could he double-barrel in the meantime? I can't remember about the DBS forms but I strongly suspect they have an option to put in another surname used within a certain length of time for women who change their name.

Does he travel for work, as he'd have to make sure they book tickets etc in the name on the passport!

[NikiSaintPhalle]

I can think of several academic couples who took one another's names and double-barrelled when they married, so Shane Finnegan and Alison Dupont are now Shane Dupont Finnegan and Alison Finnegan Dupont.

[TeamEponine]

He doesn't want to double barrel. He absolutely wants to take mine and mine only.

No travel for work, so that's not an issue.

Sounds like it might be possible!

[StandoutMop]

I think dbs forms ask for previous names and separately any other names known by, but not certain.

[TeamEponine]

Ah, thank you, that's so helpful!

We were just checking on the professional body, and they asked for documentary evidence for a name change.

I looked into deed poll, but that appears to mean you can no longer use your previous name, is that right? So that's not an option for him.

Does that mean he can simply use our wedding certificate to change his name at work, with the professional body, driving licence, and other day to day stuff, then keep his original name on passport and bank account?

Sorry if I'm asking dumb or repetitive questions, I'm just terrified of doing something illegal and him getting into trouble!

Thanks

[cdtaylornats]

Half the people in the entertainment industry use names other than their real one.

Writers often use more than one other name.

[TeamEponine]

Excellent! Thanks all.

[specialsubject]

sounds a real a pain in the arse. Splitting the big forms of ID (passport and driving licence) will make his life really difficult if he needs to prove ID.

why not just leave the name as it is until whatever stops him doing a total change has gone, then do the total change?

I imagine that the actors use their own name for real life, and just get billed by the stage name. Random aside is David Tennant who had to change fully when he did a stint in America due to their laws.

(Advice not affected by genitalia.)

[TeamEponine]

It could be twenty years before he can fully change everything. Yes, it is a total pain in the arse! Maybe not driving licence then. He just wants to be able to be called by my surname on a day to day basis. Maybe he just needs to have his "work" name as the new one, and keep everything else with the old one.

Pain in the arse is certainly the right expression for this!

[BikeRunSki]

Why ever not. Lots of male actors and authors use a professional pseudonym.

[TeamEponine]

I guess I just worry about a situation where having two surnames could be an issue. For example, with a mortgage application, his bank accounts and work contracts would be in different names. Could that be a problem, or would we just need to show our marriage certificate?

[Cinnamoncookie]

I am an unmarried (never married) woman and use two surnames - as mentioned by a PP, I work in the entertainment industry, although not as an actor. I retain my legal name for passport, driving licence, bank accounts etc, and use the professional name for everything else. I've not had any issues as yet, and have had two names for around 3 years.

Although I don't have my professional name registered as a limited company, I sign contracts and send invoices as {Legal Name} Trading as {Professional Name}

[BikeRunSki]

I have used 2 surnames for 10 years. I have only come across one situation where its been a problem. Mortgage, pension, payroll, tax etc - all fine.

All work stuff is in my maiden name.
Passport, Driving licence, bank account etc in my married name. This is my "legal name".
Work HR/Payroll have a copy of my marriage certificate and tax office aware of my 2 name scenario - I am an NI number to them anyway, names is largely irrelevant!
Work (who call me Dr H) quite happy to pay salary into bank account of Mrs C. When I need to go abroad for work, they were quite happy with why my ticket needed booking in my "other" name

Only problem I've had - I work on construction sites, and every 5 years I need to renew the Health and Safety card that allows me to go on construction sites (CSCS card) - its like licence to work on sites. The test is like a driving theory test, and is at the same centres and you need to take photographic ID. They will only issue a card in the name of the photographic ID. I keep a copy of my marriage certificate in my car, which has always helped explain the situation to new site managers.