Picking a new surname

[CindereIIa]

A very good friend of mine is exiting a marriage, doesn't want her married surname any more, and doesn't wish to go back to her maidenname (toxic birth family), so we are talking about her choosing a nice new surname.

What would you pick, if you could pick a new surname for yourself? Ideas welcome, thanks!

It's good to hear. I think it's a great idea. If you fancy PMing me with the names, feel free, but I understand if you'd rather not.

I come from a culture where the surname is linked to a profession (usually of the great great grandfather).
So things like Taylor, Gardener, Cook. She can chose something that she feels defines her.

I like Wren. I have also met people with Jay and Lark as surnames.

Stick with something easy to spell and not too uncommon (bitter experience) also consider if it has alternate meanings in other languages.

I like Winter as a surname.

I worked with someone who had the surname Anew and always thought it sounded perfect for starting again.

Phoenix would be nice, easy spelling, meaningful, but not something that stands out so much it would draw questions.

As do most of us, I think - surnames tended to be job, looks/behaviour or location-related. I think she is leaning to either a nice-sounding name (Fontaine, Beaumont etc) or a nice word, like Summer or Frost (but maybe not so seasonal), or a good old traditional surname. She likes the vibe of Jolie, but that's too Angelina so she's not picking that.

Ooh, Lark is especially fabulous!!!

Wren and Nightingale are both nice.

I might go for a name of someone I admired in some way (though the danger in that is that you find out something hideous about them!). Or a place? Sally Lancaster? Sue London? Jackie Stirling?

Grandparents maiden name ?

She doesn't want anything to do with family.

I love Sterling spelled like the money!

Nature , craft or bird names are nice - I like V sounds .. How about River, Plover , Dove, or Weaver ?
Swan ( maybe Swann) is good also.

How about the name of a river or mountain, particularly if there's one connected with a place she's fond of? Lots have have the added bonus of being a bit regal if that's a bonus?

Severn
Avon
Trent
Wye
Clyde
Snowdon
Nevis
Fell
Lomond
Alder

There's Sparrow as well on the bird theme, which isn't as pretty but has a simple down-to-earth sense that I really like.

Robin as well I suppose, although it is more common as a forename.

Fortescue-Smythe.

I was thinking about Judy Garland the other day and it occurred to me that's a nice surname, quite festive and friendly, somehow? Despite poor Judy's life.

I also like colour names, and other nouns.
Miss Black, Mrs Winter, Ms Day, Miss Young, Ms Valentine. I love names.

Fox is a cool surname

So is Savage - especially on registers where your surname is called first so you become "Savage Sue"

Sands is nice 😉 it reminds me of my favourite beach

Ohh Fox is a good one

Hathaway

Channel your inner Womble and stick your finger on a random place in the atlas.

I just tried it on Google maps with a map of France and now have the surname Châteauroux which I'm quite pleased with.

When our family did this to shake orf some past associations, we plumped for 'Windsor' and then named one of our castles the same - for a bit of continuity.

Some great names here! Thank you all.

I have just messaged her with a list. She loves a couple, wants to give it a lot more thought so please keep the ideas coming.

Her top picks so far are:

Lark
Alder (just slight concerns about pronunciations and maybe having to spell it for others, but likes how it looks written down)
Brook(s)

literally laughed out loud!

How about picking a surname from inspirational women?

Slessor
Lovelace
Nightingale
Curie
Parks
Castle
Earhart
Kahlo
Bader Ginsburg
Franklin
Taylor
Williams
Austen
Parton
Swift
Hepburn
Tubman
Pankhurst
Potter
Stopes
Christie
Sharman
Lawrence
Cooper
Astor