Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Which surname sounds better: Carlo Martin or Carlo Petzer?

15 replies

NamePollQ · 15/10/2026 09:03

I'm getting married soon and thinking about taking my wife's surname. Which sounds better to you, Carlo Martin or Carlo Petzer? Honest opinions welcome!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
faerylune · 15/10/2026 10:03

Petzer sounds like pester. I prefer Martin and I think it sounds better. Sorry to all Petzers.

OriginalSkang · 15/10/2026 10:06

I far prefer Petzer

Janefx40 · 15/10/2026 10:09

Maybe depends where you are living and what heritages you are/want to showcase? Carlo sounds Latin, Petzer more Germanic, Martin more British. Both are nice names.

Chamallo · 15/10/2026 10:15

I prefer Martin but both are fine. Personally I wouldn’t change my name without a really good reason, and matching a spouse’s name isn’t enough for me.

I guess taking on a wife’s name doesn’t have the same misogynistic historical connotations as a woman taking a husband’s name. Even so, seems like unnecessary hassle for no benefit. What’s your reason for wanting to change?

Calliopespa · 15/10/2026 10:22

I voted Martin, but Petzer sounds more distinctive, Martin more subtle so it depends a bit on the effect you want - to go under the radar more, or have a memorable name.

I tend to like to be remembered for things other than my name or outlandish haircut etc, but everyone feels a bit different about these things.

But this is baby names! You're not a baby!😂

CelticSilver · 15/10/2026 11:26

Do you have children together, what are their surnames?

user1492757084 · 15/10/2026 22:51

Carlo Martin Petzer sounds best.

Julynian · 15/10/2026 22:54

Why not both of you take both names?

Carlo Martin Petzer and Mrs Martin Petzer?
or Petzer Martin.

Or keep Petzer and name your eldest son Martin!

Janefx40 · 15/10/2026 23:48

Sorry I thought you were naming a baby!

FunnyOrca · 16/10/2026 11:28

What’s more annoying to you:

  1. Sometimes mistakenly being called Martin as your first name
  2. Spelling Petzer or dealing with misspellings of it

Whichever one seems more annoying, choose the other.

FunnyOrca · 16/10/2026 11:29

Janefx40 · 15/10/2026 10:09

Maybe depends where you are living and what heritages you are/want to showcase? Carlo sounds Latin, Petzer more Germanic, Martin more British. Both are nice names.

Martin is a really common surname in France and Germany, way more than in the UK.

GoodLordMother · 16/10/2026 12:08

Petzer is much more interesting, assuming you are going to be living in the UK. Carlo Martin is perfectly lovely, easier to say and spell for British people but is rather boring! And according to a pp very boring and ordinary in other European countries too. I've never met a Petzer and don't think I have heard of it before. Having a very unusual non British surname myself I highly recommend it, I love it's unusualness and explaining where it comes from.

JulietteRoche · Yesterday 16:27

Calliopespa · 15/10/2026 10:22

I voted Martin, but Petzer sounds more distinctive, Martin more subtle so it depends a bit on the effect you want - to go under the radar more, or have a memorable name.

I tend to like to be remembered for things other than my name or outlandish haircut etc, but everyone feels a bit different about these things.

But this is baby names! You're not a baby!😂

I prefer Petzer. Good on you for taking her name if you want to have the same name, rather that just assuming that she has to do it! I'm all for men doing that. I think it's germane to baby names as the child will presumably have the same name as the parents. That's why I think it is better if all members of a family have the same surname. What is annoying is the assumption that the woman should be the one to change her name.

MissingMeadow · Yesterday 16:28

Martin is a nicer surname.

ItsABatFaceThing · Yesterday 16:30

Carlo Martin flows better

New posts on this thread. Refresh page