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.

[drbadbride]

There is always option 4: become a dreadful snob. "Is that the soap opera about people being frightfully miserable in a pub in the North of England, or being frightfully miserable in a pub in London? Ghastly programmes, never watch them. It's Newsnight or Midsomer Murders for me."

[WhoKnowsWhereTheMistletoes]

Not at all confusing to have a different surname, in fact increasingly normal. I've never regretted not changing mine.

On the subject of Tracey B, she's been a well known soap character since her birth around 35 years ago and shows no signs of leaving.

[Annbag]

I knew a Holly Berry, Theresa Green (our accent kind of pronounced it "trees are green") and I know a Nick Griffin. Now know as Nicholas as you can imagine!

It will drive you up the wall OP. Every week someone will think they're the most hilarious original person ever making a joke about it.

[12daysofpissedoff]

I used to work with a woman whose name was Dawn Horn.

[Pipbin]

DH once met an Olive Olive. Given name Olive, married a Mr Olive.
Oh and a Mrs Kunt. Why did either of those women take their husbands names?

[CitronVert]

I knew Wendy House too. Also at college in the late 80s. This was at a university in the Midlands...

[EmilyGilmore]

We had teachers at my school called Miss Blood and Mr Bones. They were engaged when I was there, oh we thought it the funniest coupling since Punch met Judy. At least you have options OP - think of poor Miss Blood. Spent her whole life waiting to marry someone with a nicer name than her and she gets old Mr Bones!

[justmyview]

I heard of a Lorraine, who married Steve Lorraine and had to decide whether to become "Lorraine Lorraine"

Sympathise if you would like to take your husband's surname but don't like it. Important thing is what you want to do. I think in the past, it was more common to take a husband's surname, but now, lots of people don't

[MrsItsNoworNotatAll]

I think what would be worse if your first name was going to rhmye with your future husbands surname.

Can't see a problem with Tracy Barlow as a name. Yes there will be some bores who will have to comment on it but they can be sorted out with a bored heard it all before stare from you or better still tell them to shut the Fuck up.

[Saki5000]

Don't change your surname. Your DP can't complain if he doesn't want to change his. The fact that his family won't like is not a good reason to not change it. You shouldn't tolerate that kind of sexist attitude.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

MrSheen nearly 40 years!!!!

[KingJarethsBulge]

I know an Lynn Orr and a Summer Halliday. Both their married names. Sorry op nothing useful to add just wanted to share.

[Bulbasaur]

We had teachers at my school called Miss Blood and Mr Bones. They were engaged when I was there, oh we thought it the funniest coupling since Punch met Judy. At least you have options OP - think of poor Miss Blood. Spent her whole life waiting to marry someone with a nicer name than her and she gets old Mr Bones!

OMG! She should have hyphenated her last name. Mrs. Blood-Bones. It would go down in history.

OP, if you don't like his last name, don't take it. This isn't the 1950's, women aren't being taken in anymore, they're becoming an equal member of a team. Or you could hyphenate it, so that it's both your names.

My last name is still my maiden name legally, but everywhere else it's my married name. Helps me sort out important documents in the mail. Really, I've just been procrastinating because it's a hassle to get it all changed and to reorder bank cards, ID's, etc... But I think this year will be the year now that we have DD and I don't want her confused as she gets older with me having one last name on some things and a different one on others.

[Camolips]

Agree with everyone who says keep your own name. He is, so why wouldn't you?

Also don't stress any more! It's 18 months away, you'll be a nervous wreck and it's such a small thing really.

To the poster who said that she wants to change back to her old name but her h gets in a sulk when she mentions it. It's YOUR name, it's up to YOU what you call yourself. Just go ahead and call yourself whatever you want!

And honestly, children don't get confused about different names so that should never be used as a reason not all have the same surname or a different professional name.

[Littlef00t]

I'd really push for double barrelled surname. It seems ridiculous you are considering changing your whole name and he won't consider adding one of yours to his.

[AliceLidl]

Years ago, in the local paper wedding section, they announced the Duck-Brain wedding.

I wish I'd kept that announcement. Nobody ever believes me. I don't think they hyphenated in real life but that's how the paper announced all the weddings, her surname and then his surname.

The Smith-Jones wedding. The Green-Brown wedding. The Duck-Brain wedding.

I did have a friend at school who swapped her first and middle names around as she hated her first name. If you really hate your first name, could you do that OP? Start going by your middle name now, then decide later if you want to change your surname when you marry.

[youareallbonkers]

Why shouldn't his 1st wife still have the surname? It's her name too now! Why should she have to change?

[youareallbonkers]

And you don't have to change your name by deed poll btw, you are legally entitled to call yourself whatever you like (unless for fraudulent reasons) you just need to write to all parties concerned and tell them that you will now be known as princess consuala banana hammock, for example, and they must accept this.

[CornChips]

I'd hyphen too. I know someone who upon marriage would be the same name as a rather famous actress, so she just hyphenated it.

[YonicSleighdriver]

If you are set on changing, how about becoming Tracey-Ann or similar?

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

Who cares, it could be Connelly (aka Baby P's mum) then you'd really have cause for concern. A fictional TV character? I think you're just getting your knickers in a twist about nothing OP.

[ScrambledEggAndToast]

Sorry if that sounded light hearted, it wasn't meant to btw.

[NobodyLivesHere]

I worked with a Carol Caroll.
I sympathise OP I have the first name of a corrie character and as a child everyone used to say 'oooh like xxx' she was old andit was embarrassing .

[Salmotrutta]

I've mentioned this on here before but the old school textbook up here in Scotland for Higher Chemistry was written by a teacher called Norman Conquest.!

[Ashwagandha]

This really makes me ANGRY. Why should it be an assumption that you would change your identity while he refuses to even contemplate changing his? How the fuck is that okay??? I read a quote by a brilliant columnist once that said, 'women who change their names on marriage are either deeply insecure, deeply conservative or deeply stupid'. I have to say, when I think of the women I know who have changed their surnames, they do all fit into at least one of these categories. Be confident in your self, your identity and your place in society.
Any by the way, I have absolutely no idea who Tracey Barlow is.