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!

I've thought about this a few times. Myself and my DH both have different surnames and have often thought of picking one we both like. We thought about combining our surnames, such as Smines or Jonith (smith and jones) and maybe putting a Mc before it, McJonith.

But if it was just for me I'd pick something pretty like Bloom, sunrise, rainbow or treacle

Châteauroux is actually beautiful! I might change my own name!

Slight downside having to spell it though.

Unless her first name is Sylvia…

Oh my, Treacle is just adorable!

I like Bloom a lot. Nice ideas here.

I always take note of names that I like with the intention of using them as characters in a book I never get time to write. Some particular favourites (all genuine people I've met) are:

Snowball
Peach
Clutterbuck
Fullalove
Love
Wizard
Snook
Chantilly
Lemon

If your friend would rather go for a more elegant classic then I'd suggest

Wilkinson
Harper
Montgomery
Montague
Humphries
Vaughan

Or go with:

The Great
Claire The Great 😁

Or

Of
Claire Of Richmond

Or being more mysterious
Claire De Richmond

😁😁

Wow! Some of those are just wonderful!

She may be leaning to a classic, I think, but I threw her a little curve ball of thinking for something newish, like Bloom or Fox or Phoenix, and less typical surnamey. They are all nice - I really like Harper.

Somebody I know did the same and chose Beaumont.

Bailey
Casey
Dalton
French
Green
Kent
Law
Palmer
Spring
Taylor
Winter

Ha - interesting! Beautiful mountain! It's a great choice.

I'd be going for something that doesn't have to be spelled out (so no alternative ways of spelling it), isn't also used as a first name, isn't unusual, while the list of rivers and mountains above is nice I wouldn't want people saying "that's unusual" whenever I was introduced. Also not something people could turn into a nickname. Also not too popular. I am fussy - pretty well everything suggested so far would be out for one of these reasons.

Looking through my phone contacts, ones that stand out as nice include Davenport, Ravenscroft, Harrison, Anderson. Placenames can also be nice especially if they are meaningful, but can veer into "unusual" territory.

Ooh Harper - it suggests Cupid’s arrow but also poisoned arrow… and pointing forwards so very positive.
Similar to you, I note names on graves at Kensal Green Cemetery but for the first names as there are some beautiful and unusual ones. I’ll pay more attention to surnames next time.

I have a single-syllable first and last name currently, and whilst I don't dislike it (and am still happily married) if I were starting again, I would want a change with a nice flow. I hated my maiden name in combination with my first name and whilst I don't have a bad backstory would not consider going back.

Nature seems to be your friend's preference currently, how about Rowan, Willow or Meadows

Yes - this is what we have discussed, and why she wants to put a lot of thought into it.

The surname of your favorite celebrity, author, activist, character etc... basically someone you look up to (if a real person then maybe go someone long dead so they are less unlikely to be suddenly outted as a nonce or nazi or anything shocking).

Phoenix
Abel

Month names are good too if a particular month is meaningful to your friend.

Yes - flow is important too.

She loves Meadows, but we have a friend with that surname - otherwise that could have worked.

Nonsense. Perfectly easy to do.

I did this. Didn't want my ex-husband's name when we divorced, didn't want my dad's name anymore. Used a surname generator on the internet until I found one I liked! Very inexpensive to change by deed poll and not much admin to worry about.

I went to a wedding where neither of them wanted to take the other's babe, so they chose Bailey, as It's a Wonderful Life was their favourite film. It was a glorious wedding!

Has nobody suggested Banana-Hammock yet??

Ooh I love this question!

A famous historical figure she likes? I'm a scientist so for me this could be Newton, Pascale, Kepler etc?

Something from literature / an author? - Bronte!? Austen, Rowling, Dickens lol?

Or place name? Like some towns would work? - York, Derby, etc?

Or a colour could be nice? - Green, Black, Rose?

Something from nature is nice, maybe Forrest, Brook, Stone etc?

Or materials somehow feel nice and solid? - Wood, Steele?

If she likes nature how about:

Beech
Berry
Hawthorne
Rowntree
Woods

I just did the map thing too and ended up with "Arnstein" haha

'Wild' is the surname women sometimes chose in the Women's Liberation days.