Name change

acapalbo

Ok, I know that I'm so far behind on the times (I got married almost 2 months ago and haven't changed anything yet).  I do have my marriage license, I just need to figure out what to change my name to.  I always thought that I would just drop my last name and add his but lately I've been thinking about dropping my middle name and moving over my maiden name.  There is also the possibility of hyphening but that seems like a pain too.  Anybody have some experience or recommendations for the best way to go?

Knottie07763429

I didn't want to drop my last name fully either.   What I did is this: legally I am Stephanie middle name, maiden name, new last name. I changed it to that through the SS..so technically I have two middle names. On my license I only have Stephanie middle name last name as well as my passport. I haven't had an issues with anything. My new last name is very common while my maiden isn't.

ToiKenne

I went with Erika Maiden Name Married Name.  My Middle Name rhymed with my Married Name and I felt like it made my name seem like kind of a joke so I just dropped my Middle Name.  I couldn't part with my Maiden Name.  It's too big a part of me since it's still what my friends call me!

CTbride79

I am currently thinking of doing Carrie (Maiden Name) (Married Name) and dropping my middle name. I happen to hate my middle name, so I don't mind dropping it, and I like the way my maiden name initial sounds with my married name. But I still have another 11 months to decide!

Vanessa630

This is a great question. I've been thinking about the same thing. I've always wondered why keeping your maiden name and adding your married name necessitated dropping your middle name. But Stephy, it sounds like you were able to keep the middle name as well? My middle name has a lot of significance in my family so I didn't want to drop it. And my last name ends with me so I'm struggling with that. I was also going back and forth with keeping my maiden name for professional reasons. I guess I still have plenty of time to struggle with this.

YAYMiaBride

i absolutely L.O.V.E my last name and dont want to get rid of it but our names sound too weird together to hyphen them. I never heard of dropping the middle name to your maiden name but i love that idea! My middle name has no significance anyway... great idea!

dpantaleoni

I definitely don't want to lose my last name because my dad was an only child and had three daughters so it wont go on past us, so I've decided to drop my middle name (or keep it) and use my maiden name as an additional middle name.  I'm an attorney and was at a deposition with someone who had a VERY long hyphenated name (which mine would also be) and it was SUCH a pain saying it all the time when I addressed her so I didn't want to deal with that.

ggmae

I kept both my middle and maiden, but bumped my maiden to my 2nd middle name. All 4 names are on my SS card and bank account, while I am FirstName MaidenInitial LastName on my license. I go by FirstName LastName socially and use my maiden initial when there is only space for 1 middle initial. I am happy with my choice. I am attached to both my middle and maiden name, so there was no way I was dropping either.

rel830

I had a slightly more complicated situation - my parents gave me both of their names, so my name was First Middle Last1 Last2. I wanted to take my husband's name for simplicity (having three last names between us would have been a nightmare), but I didn't want to part with mine, so I decided to add his as my last name, keep my middle name and make my original last names middle names too - so I'd have three middle names. However, when I asked to do this at the social security office, the woman told me it was too long to fit in the "middle name" field on her computer and would not be able to print on my social security card. I don't think that was legal (you can legally have as many middle names as you want), but since it was only one character over (the limit is apparently 17), I combined my last names into one name (removed the space between them). So now I'm First Middle Last1Last2 Hislast