Waterman, Smallwater or Smallhouse?

[CJKnox]

My surname is Waterhouse; DP's is Smallman... We are getting married soon. We're also expecting! Which new surname would you use? I think Smallwater sounds the best?

Such a good idea! I so wish I had thought of this. Waterman is great.

People with double barrelled names can't then double barrel again (surely!) so I think this will be what most children with two surnames end up doing!

Waterman all the way!

Congrats all round too

Waterman is definitely the best option. What a great idea to amalgamate surnames. I wish I had thought of this when I married - we could have been the Hurray family!

Strange idea IMO. And you are both losing your names anyway. I don't get the big deal of a surname. I kept mine so do have DH name. Not an issue.
But anyway since you asked I would go for Waterman.

Waterman.

And I think the merging of two names is a lovely idea - far better than just taking the man's name. This way your DC get to honour both of your family names.

Can't you just go with his?

Why should I just go with his?

Waterman. I think it's a cool idea.

Yes but how can Heirhunters track you down to let you know you have inherited millions from a long lost relative if you all change your names?
The trail will just go dead

Smallman-Waterhouse conjurs up a great image, OP but to be serious Waterman or Houseman are the best options to fit with what you are aiming for which seems like great idea to me (although I think your surname is the best of all).

oh I wish I'd thought of this....it was a huge sticking point for me to give up my name. Just cussedness really, but I double barrelled.

We could have been Hamleys ...might have got a discount in the toyshop :o

Whoever it said that if you have 3 different surnames you have to take birth certificates everywhere to prove you're the parents - that's not true

I know that's not what you're asking OP just thought I'd add that

Anyway, you have the oppurtunity to have a Baby Houseman here - why would you consider anything else

But I really don't care if the trail goes dead... it may sound awful, but for years people have given up their surname for their partners... So your actual family would be able to track you down anyway!

Waterman and I think it's a great idea.

I think it is a perfectly reasonable thing to do and don't see why some on here are getting their knickers all knotted about it. Dh and I considered it but couldn't find a combination that worked so I just kept my name in the end and dd has Dh's as a surname and mine as a middle name.

There idea that the trail will go cold is ridiculous. Why would it go any more cold than if the op changes her name to her husband's? They will formally register the change of name so any future family historians will have no problems working out their esteemed lineage. Besides, lots of families changed or amended names in the past, mine did about a hundred years ago and nobody has had any problems working it out.

I love all the 'can't my head around this' or 'just take his name' style reactions. People can be very odd about surnames.

I think Waterman is ace OP. But as a sage pp already said, don't call your son Dennis.

And as for trails going cold, do you really think any trail can go cold in this digital age!

I don't like Houseman because it reminds me of 'houseboy' i.e native servant to some fat old colonialists.

But you are both giving up your names what does that achieve

Er, a new name?

Presumably the OP and her partner both want to share a name with their kids without going double barrelled or one taking the other's name. A new name makes perfect sense.

Waterman is the nicest. Smallwater sounds wee related.

A name they're both happy with? As it includes both their names

Seems silly

Why do you think it's silly?