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Original poster

Can someone explain married people’s surnames?

259 replies

henpp · 26/06/2024 22:46

If you marry, do both people have to have the same surname? Do you have to decide on which to have together? Could one of you double barrel and the other not?

OP posts:
Needanewname42 · 26/06/2024 22:55

In the UK it traditionally the woman takes her husbands surname Mr & Mrs Smith. And babies take their mums name Baby Smith

A fair percentage still do.

But it's tradition, not law and nothing is set in stone.

Gowlett · 26/06/2024 22:51

I don’t like double-barrelling, either take his name or don’t.
Or both take her name, if that’s the preference. Same for kids.

toomanytonotice · 26/06/2024 22:51

LadyFeatheringt0n · 26/06/2024 22:48

You can do what you want but i didn't really care i just took DHs as i wanted us all to have one single barrelled name.

Why did dh not take yours?

o/p you can do what you want. Keep your own name, change it to something totally different. Marriage makes no difference.

funny though as 99% of men have nicer/easier to pronounce surnames so women always seem to be the one who changes.

that or women are “proud to be married” so change their names to reflect that. Men clearly not so much pride in their marital status or they’d be fighting to do it as well.

Safewater · 26/06/2024 22:51

Whatever you want. I use mine and husband's name, I don't hyphenate. Husband just has his own, kids have both and hyphenate.
You can do what you want. People will mention the feminist reasoning behind keeping your own, but do what you feel comfortable with.

SocoBateVira · 26/06/2024 22:50

No, no and yes.

UnpackingBooksFromBoxes · 26/06/2024 22:49

You can take your spouse’s name
They can take your name
You can create a new name
You can keep your names the same

LadyFeatheringt0n · 26/06/2024 22:48

You can do what you want but i didn't really care i just took DHs as i wanted us all to have one single barrelled name.

FalseAlarmFail · 26/06/2024 22:47

You do not have to have the same surname.

JuvenileBigfoot · 26/06/2024 22:47

You can do whatever you want!