...to give dc a different surname to me and Dh?

[biddiegerwiddie]

Dh and I both hate our surnames. Mine is very ugly-sounding and impossible to spell and his has negative connotations - it’s the name of a notorious murderer and people often comment about it when he tells them his name.

We both really like our mothers’ maiden names however. Would it be odd/impractical to give our dc a double-barrelled surname of our mothers’ maiden names?

If your surnames are so disliked, why not change the whole family's name at the same time?
It would make things so much easier all round

Aa an aside; Isn't it more difficult to get a passport/travel when children have completely different name to you?

Not unreasonable, but as PP said, consider all of you changing names.

You'll face a life of travelling with his birth certificate as well as his passport otherwise.

Agree with Tiddly - change the whole family name. Will make everything so much easier in the long run. When DH and I got married, we changed both our surnames to something new.

Yes change the whole family name

Another for change all your names to one you both agree on. All being different will be really confusing.

I would change all of your names and avoid double barrelling.
Would it work to merge the start of one of your surnames with the end of the others to make a new name? A couple I know did this when they got married but it wouldn't work with all names.

think really carefully before you do this. if I was in your shoes I would pick a completely different family name and change everyone to it. But, just so you are aware, travelling with children particularly to places like the states with different names can be a nightmare. my name was different from my mum and dads. it irked me everytime a letter went home from school to Mr and Mrs mummymeister instead of Mr and Mrs xxx which they were.

also do not underestimate how upset both of your families will be if you abandon your surnames, whatever the connotations. it can cause real splits in families and you need to handle it very delicately indeed.

as for the whole double barrel thing, I personally cannot stand it and find it pretentious but that's just me.

pick one name, go with it for all of you and just tread carefully with everyone around you and it should be fine.

also of course think about any professional or other qualifications that you hold where a name change will be needed.

I agree with pp, I’d consider picking a different surname and having all of you change to the new surname, rather than have just the DC with a different surname.

Avoid double-barreling if at all possible

I would change all of your names. It's nice to share a family name. I like the idea of you starting a new family with a new name!

Ex and I changed our names by deed poll to a totally different one because we both had (different) surnames that we hated.

Change all your names.

I’d also change everyone’s name though the same thing personally.

*to the same thing

My parents changed both of their names when they got married.

My Dad didn't want to take my Mum's name, my Mum point blank refused to take his. So they compromised, and made up a new surname for us all.

Worked well, and does help with the passport lark to have the same surname :)

So why not change your names too? I wouldn't want a different surname to my DC but you could easily just pick a new name for all of you

Change all of your names or none of them.. your kids will feel strange not having the same name as either of you so like other people have said just change all of then