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 got a friend whose surname is Savage and one who is Fox. I love both of those. I like:
King
Cotton
Best
Davenport

Erm.

Bloom and Rose are well used in the Jewish community, although probably not original names but anglicised.

I’d choose something quite basic (I hate my surname). So maybe something like Kendall or Taylor. I wouldn't be looking for unique, too easy to trace on SM.

Yes I'd do the same. There's a lovely name if I go back some generations in my family.
I know someone else who did a surname change on marriage, they picked a name that had some significance to both of them think along the lines of Redwood, to remind them of a lovely holiday in California.
So can your friend think of a treasured memory in a place or location and then find a surname that contains some elements of that

I'd think about historical or well known figures she admires?
Or what about Phoenix- rise from the ashes and all that?

Maybe a bird? Like Swallow, Weaver, Wren, Whistler, Hawk?

Or, if she has a floral first name, Bouquet 😀

Unless your friend's first name is Apple or Cherry how about Orchard? I used to know a family with that surname.

I agree whenever this question comes up people always suggest silly sounding name. Something easy to spell not too common but not too unusual

Reynolds
Carter
Dalton
Marlow
Robson
Collins
Ashford

Cheryl Strayed sounds like a porn name

How about Bouquet, but pronounced Bucket! 😂

For a laugh, why not go with Starmer and see if it improves your odds on NHS waiting lists.

Precisely 😅

I’ve always wanted to change my surname to Who.

Funnily enough, we are both big Corbyn fans, and she did consider Corbyn, but ultimately didn't want a surname that is too tied to any one other person. Why Jolie is out too, though it's really lovely.

Are you a Doctor?

How about something that sounds similar, like Corbett?

the destroyer of worlds 😅

Someone I know did this recently. They and their spouse-to-be used to look at the names of directors and producers of films and TV shows they liked, and ended up using a surname from one of those. It had no likeness to either of their names at the time, and went well with both their first names

How has no-one recommended Phalange yet?! First name Regina!

How about referencing a place that is special to her? Or a person in history that she looks up to? Or a book that she loves? Or a favourite animal?

I used to go to school with someone that had the surname Leopard which was quite envy inducing as a child!

As someone with a surname that is difficult to spell, I'd recommend something easy!

I did! Changed my surname to Osbourne . It's changed again now as I've married again .

I came to suggest this too, I was shocked I scrolled so far down before seeing it! 😂

Her first name is Banana though, so she'd be Banana Banana-Hammock, which is just a bit too much, imho.

Well then just choose Balonz.

Banana Balonz would be perfect.

I always liked Winterhalter.

Ooh I've always wanted my surname to be Valentine so I'd say for her to choose that!

Christmas
Rainbow
Fitzgerald
Rose
Lawrence
Austen
Winter