To be stressing out over my unfortunate post - marriage name??

[Shande80]

DP and I are getting married in May 2016. The combination of my first name and his second name gives the same name as an undesirable soap opera character. I've already had sniggers and jokes and one person (who wasn't aware of my situation) joked "hey wouldn't it be funny if you married someone with the surname *** oh how awful would that be!" .

The was I see it I have three options ...

1. Grin and bear it ... For years ... And years ... And years ...
2. Not change my second name which would be a shame as I'd like us to have the same name and this option would not go down well with his family. Plus his ex wife still has his surname which would make it seem even worse that I didn't iykwim??
3. Change my first name. I've always hated the fucker anyway but I can imagine it being a right faff on trying to get everyone on board.

It's stressing me out and I don't even watch the bloody program.

I'd never heard of her, even after I Googled it means nothing. Can't you just practise your Paddington style hard stare combined with the Mumsnet headtilt? Or change your first name, or keep your second name, it's none of my business. But not to take your husband's name if that is what you want to do because of a soap character, well known or not, seems pretty wet. I was expecting it to be Adolpha Hitler or something.

I can't believe you're thinking of changing your first name too!

Either: keep your own name, double barrel or add his on the end but not hyphenated.

You don't need to give up your entire identity. YOur dh obviously wouldn't.

Keep your surname and to hell with what his family think. It's none of their business.

Or just use your maiden name at work. I use my married name for most things but at work I use my maiden name (so I'm less searchable on social media mostly).

never ever heard of her.

think I cannot be the only one.

Couls be worse - you could be called Gary.

(Another who has never heard of Tracy Barlow).

Do what makes you happy and if that option is to take his name alone then one option is to say - with a look that matches the voice - that's right and we never knew if she really did or didn't do we ... They will soon get bored. With strangers pretend you never watch the street and don't know what they are on about.

think I cannot be the only one.

The OP will probably come across a few people every day who haven't heard of Tracey Barlow and lots more who are too well mannered to comment on her name.

They aren't the ones who she's bothered about.

I would imagine it only taking a couple of smart remarks a day to make it really grate.

Just keep your own name . Much the easiest and, I must admit, I just can't understand why anyone wants to change their name on marriage anyway.

I found out recently that a relative's daughter is called Alice Cooper...

Just change your first name and surname then. Or just tell everyone you're to be called "the missus" from now on.
If ever there was a no-brained for keeping your own name, surely this is it.

Keeping your surname doesn't make you any less married. People keep their own name in many cultures, increasingly in the UK. I kept mine and know loads of people who did the same.

It really wouldn't bother me at all. But if it dies I would hyphen your current name and the new name.

It's Tracy not Tracey. It doesn't matter if lots of you on here haven't heard of her, lots have. She is not a nice character.

My cousin was called Tracy and has changed her name to Theresa in recent years.

I worked with a Sharon Mitchell for years

" I'm legally Mrs Hisname but I've always gone by Mrs Myname Hisname."

Call yourself what you like. are you known as Mrs Myname Hisname? if so, then thats your name

Why are people commenting on the exDW keeping her married name? Is it not the done thing? Most of the divorced women I know go by their exHs names.

OP in your circumstances, I would keep my existing name or hyphenate if you are going to find being Tracy Barlow embarrassing. I haven't watched corrie for about 30 years and couldn't say whether or not she is still in it, but I would still associate the two and giggle a little at the name (sorry).

But then again, please do become Tracy Barlow, because in my working life, if we get a client with the same name as a famous person, real or fictional, it gives us a little brightness in an otherwise dull existence. You could join Gary Barlow, David Essex, Joe Cocker and Holly Willoughby, amongst many others.

Please just keep your maiden name OP . If your future dh doesn't understand why then that's not a great start to the relationship.

Although I wouldn't like a "comedy" or famous name as far as they go Tracy Barlow is a pretty good one.

I always thought 'Wendy House' was an urban legend! Are you all sure you knew her, rather than knew 'of' her?

Keep your name or double barrel?

I knew someone who when she got married became a T.WATT. She still did it! We giggled for 5 minutes when we realised. Then we got over it. I used to work with a Mike 'don't called me Michael' Jackson. Is there a nickname to Tracy you could use? Or could you join part of your maiden name to part of his to make a new family name? Say your maiden name is Harwood you could both be Barwood or Harlow? If he's dead against changing his, ask yourself if you can be arsed with changing yours? FWIW I understand all your reasons so I guess you have to decide which one grates on you the least?

I am an Eastenders fan. I have hand on heart never heard of Tracey Barlow. Not everyone will know it.

Do all the question marks at the end of my sentences make me sound Australian??

No, I knew her, I met her, I worked with her. At an office Christmas bash she (after rather more office hooch than was wise) got weepy with a colleague and said that she had been laughed at from infants' school up and her parents had not even given her a middle name, sod them . . .

I really knew Wendy House. We were involved in the same sport when I was a teenager (she was an adult).

Not everyone will know Tracy Barlow, but millions will. It's a really popular show and she's been in it nearly 40 years.