to really, REALLY regret changing my surname?

[BoldRoo]

I was quite young when I married and changed my surname without giving it much consideration. Now, ten years later, I really regret it, for a number of reasons.

1. No family links (I have no middle names either).
   
2. Our surname is awful. Thought I’d get used to it, never have. It’s got a rude word as part of it (think Cockshoot, Dickman type name).
   
3. I hate seeing it on documents and still hate writing it myself.
   
4. I’m worried our children will be teased at school for it (husband denies it has ever happened to him, I don’t believe him). They’re still too young to know their surnames so that doesn’t matter.
   

So, I’ve suggested to husband that I change surname, and that our children also change to be the same as mine, and that he can adopt our new surname as a middle name/double barrelled name with his original surname (he refuses to change it outright). He’s being moody about it but says I can. But he’ll definitely guilt trip me about it. So, am I being unreasonable to seriously consider doing this?

[marly11]

I can see how someone else would get funny about this but totally see the points you make and, after all, you have given it a try and don't like it. There will be raised eyebrows from some in the family perhaps, but your thinking seems reasonable to me. I regret my DC having DPs name but early on when we are younger perhaps we just 'go with' these things that really needed more thought.

[BoldRoo]

Every time I think of potentially living with this name for another 50-60 odd years (hopefully) it depresses the hell out of me. I’d hate for it to be on my gravestone!

[MamaRaisingBoys]

Yanbu to change it if you don’t like it. Yabu to suggest changing your children’s though. If you feel so strongly about it you can double barrel their surnames. To change it just because you have decided you definitely don’t like it now is unreasonable imo

[GeePipe]

Yanbu to change your own name ofc but yab v u to try and change other peoples names.

[BoldRoo]

Even if it’s a name that I’m 99.9% sure they’re going to be teased for @MamaRaisingBoys?

[BoldRoo]

I’d just like to add, it was a name that wouldn’t cause any teasing, I wouldn’t be considering changing my childrens’ names. I’m trying to protect them from years of piss taking.

[BoldRoo]

If it was*

[RhodaCamel]

I totally understand you. Funny enough, I was laying in bed last night thinking the same for myself. I’ve been married 18 years and been with dh for 30 so you would think I’d be used to the name but I really don’t like it and I regret not keeping my maiden name. My dad is an only child and so the name won’t get passed on and tbh I loved my previous surname. My married name is weird and I have to spell it out to people and even then they ask me to repeat it which is a bloody pita! Although ds isn’t bothered about his surname dd hates it too. Thing is dh loves the name (His whole family do for some reason) and would be really upset if I said I wanted to change it after all this time, so I guess I’m stuck with it.

[Hypergear]

I agree with @MamaRaisingBoys
If DH doesn't want the children to lose his name, then only double barrel is fair IMO

[BlueHarry]

Yanbu to change yours. With your DC it's not as straightforward because it's their name now. I'm not sure what I'd do with that... Probably wait until they're a bit older to have a chat with them (assuming they're young now) and let them know that changing it to yours/double barrel is an option... might not go down well with your husband if they want to do so though.

[katy1213]

Just change it; you don't need his permission. You might have left it a bit late to change the children's name, though.

[FagAsh]

@RhodaCamel
Surely their feelings don’t come into YOUR identity though?


I changed mine back and feel brilliant !
My kids have maiden name as middle names so that’s all fine with me

[BlueHarry]

I sometimes regret dd's name is double barrelled rather than her just having my surname, but she's very attached to her full name! Plus it did seem the fairest way. I'm just hoping if she gets married and decides to do the double barrelled thing too, she drops his part and keeps mine.

[sweeneytoddsrazor]

Change yours but you shouldn't change your childrens. And I do feel sorry for DH tbh. How do you think he feels when you are being so dismissive of his name?

[TheCakeCrusader]

I get where you’re coming from OP- I kept my maiden name when I married and my husband agreed to double barrel our children’s names with the option of letting the kids know that they could have the option of changing/ shortening in the future.

[Friendsofmine]

I think this is something you need to agree and not force on your OH.

Imagine if it was the other way round and you didn't want their names changed but he did it anyway and it hurt you. Is it worth all the resentment and impact on your marriage? Have you googled the name? Are there lots of people with it? If they survived your kids will too!

[mnthrowaway202020]

Change it!!!

[TheCakeCrusader]

... our boys have actually expressed that they’re not too keen on their dad’s surname and would like to shorten it to be the same as the one he uses for business ( shortened version and nicer sounding!

[BoldRoo]

Well as he’s always been dismissive of my maiden name @sweeneytoddsrazor, I’m not too worried about that. I touched upon the subject of him taking my surname when we were engaged, he wouldn’t entertain it, I was too young/in love to argue my point.

[bubblesforlife]

Watching this with interest. I’m newly married and really don’t like my DHs surname. I’ve tried every approach with him, but he’s having none of me. I want to have the same surname as him for any DC that may come along.
I also hate seeing it written down. It’s a weird one and when I say it people say ya, keep your own...
Ugh!!!!!!

[BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo]

Totally agree with you OP, really wish I had kept my surname my family name has completely died out now, it was nice as well unlike the generic surname I have now, wish I had been more worldly wise all those years ago and double barrelled it at the very least, mind you I wish I had changed my first name as well, too late now sadly.

[BoldRoo]

I have googled it, lots of variations of it as people probably change the original because it’s awful . I suggested changing the spelling first, before anything else. That idea wasn’t acceptable either.

[boringbertha]

YANBU, I couldn't wait to get back to my maiden name after divorcing my ExH. His is not an English surname and a bit of a mouthful. Never been so happy so I'd say do what makes you happy. It's only a name after all.

[BoldRoo]

I wouldn’t care what his family thought about it. We have an okay-ish relationship but I’m definitely on the outside looking in! Never been accepted as one of them despite my best efforts.

[mnthrowaway202020]

Life is too short to be stuck with a name you despise. It can truly affect your sense of identity- I used to hate introducing myself to people, seeing my name written down (work email address, social media etc). I am much happier now that I’ve changed it.

He might feel differently because it’s been his name since birth, but you obviously don’t have the same attachment to the name so it’s fine. I think he’s also being a bit control and overly traditional if he has a problem with you changing your name and won’t entertain an alternative such as a different spelling.

I assure you, your kids will thank you for not being lumbered with a rude/unique name.