Help me choose my own surname

[Providora]

I'm preparing to divorce, I stupidly changed my name on marriage because my father was an awful person and I didn't want to carry his name anymore.

Of course, now I don't want XH's name either and none of the names in my maternal line of ancestry really appeal. I've decided to create my own name that just mine, not attached to anyone else.

Can you help me with ideas? My rough criteria are:

• Shortish, easy to spell and pronounce, familiar but not super common.
• Flows nicely from a short first name ending with a vowel sound.
• Consistent with my English heritage.
• This is hard to articulate! - but something elegant, with a bit of gravitas, not extravagant or pompous.

Thank you!

Ambrose
Hartley
Groves
Kane

Another vote for Montague, Cavendish or how about Barkshire?

Castle
Reeves
Lane
Harper
Hill

One of the loveliest ladies I’ve ever known had the surname Reid. Whenever I hear that name, it reminds me so much of her...she was utterly delightful!

I did this. I googled uk surnames scrolled down about a hundred then started looking and found one I like.

I know you are not keen on your maternal names but could you combine any of them? Eg Lovegrove and Hazeldean could yield Hazelgrove or Lovedean. Johnson and Brown, Bronson etc.

Barkshire would be constantly misspelt as Berkshire.

@Providora Are you going to change your name by deed poll? Is that an easy thing to do?

Shaw
Wilson
Parker
England/English
Miles

Wilde
Wolfe

I think I'm going to do something similar to you op. When I take the plunge! Imminently

Thames

Haha this is a situation where an old phonebook would be handy.

Skywalker?

Snowball.

I once knew a lady called Cindy Snowball.

A marvellous name!

If I could chose my own surname it would be Diamond, Darling, Flowers or Button.

How about May?

Or a place name, suggesting u might be from there, eg Henley, Dawlish.

Or a traditional occupation, eg Sadler, Cooper, Smith.

Bond, OP Bond.

I like Snowball. I once went skiing and the Captain of the flight introduced himself as Johnny Snowball. Never been turned on so quick

Also like Michaelmas, Christmas (fun) and Zelly

Harper

Wolfe

How about Iceni? In honour of the icon of female empowerment, Boudicca

Wood
Moss
Harper
Ives
Cullen
Shaw

I would go for Winters if i had this (rather marvellous) choice. I’ve always liked how grownup and refined it sounds.

I once worked with a ruby breeze, thought it was a gorgeous name

Hamilton