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How to change an already-hyphenated last name and don't want another hyphen?

Christie072Christie072 member
Name Dropper First Comment First Anniversary
in Wedding Etiquette Forum
I've been going back and forth thinking about if/how to change my name.  My last name is currently hyphenated (Mylast1-Mylast2) -- but it's ALL my dad's last name (not my mom's and dad's combined).  Even if my last name wasn't hyphenated, I've got z's and y's in it that always throw people off when trying to pronounce it.  Tossing in a hyphen never simplifies it, so growing up with a hyphenated last name has actually been a bit of a pain for me.  Plus, it's a pain when some places (like certain airlines) don't use a hyphen and then you're ticket and passport name don't match and you have issues checking in.  This has happened more than once on international flights and it's such a pain!  So, I was (initially) happy thinking of changing my name to something a little shorter and more pronounceable (my fiance's last name).  And I really want the same last name (or part of it) as my future kids, but I don't want to subject them to a hyphen. 

After thinking about it more, I'm not sure I want to give up all of my past identity.  A lot of people call me by the first part of my last name (Mylast1).  It's actually a pretty common nickname.  I'm also a licensed professional in two states.  And I have established my career with my current name (Mylast1-Mylast2).  Since I've worked at a few companies, it could confuse my network down the road if my name is completely different. 

So I'm now leaning toward keeping part of my current last name and fusing it with all or part of my fiance's last name.  But how?!  He's got a z in his last name, too... how many z's is too many in a last name?  Instead of using a hyphen (Mylast1-Hislast), what if I did something like Mylast1Hislast or HislastMyslast1 so I don't have issues with international flights and my passport? I was thinking that although it makes more sense to have my last name segment first, it seems to preserve a "family name" feel if I put his last name first.  Has anyone else dealt with this?  What are your thoughts?  What would/did you do?
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Re: How to change an already-hyphenated last name and don't want another hyphen?

  • kitty8403kitty8403 member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Answer Name Dropper
    Have you thought about simply having two last names, with no hyphen? That would give you the option of using whatever you want, at least socially.

    Example: instead of being Ms. Christie Zzzz-Yyyyyy-HubbyName you could simply be Christie Maiden HubbyName.
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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    Could you take the Mylast1 and move it to your middle name?  So you would be Christie Mylast1 FIlast.  Depending on the laws of your state and any license you hold, you may be able to keep your professional name for work only.  Then socially and legally, you can go by Christie FIlast.
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  • Christie072Christie072 member
    Name Dropper First Comment First Anniversary
    @kitty8403 -- That's a good idea.  Do you know if I'd still have issues with airline tickets not matching a passport if I have a space instead of a hyphen? 

    @OliveOilsMom -- That's a good idea, too, but I don't think I can change my middle name without hurting my mom.  I was named after her (deceased) sister, so it has special family meaning.  Is there a limit on the number of middle names you can have?  Maybe I can have two?
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  • gildedcoyotegildedcoyote member
    10 Comments Second Anniversary
    I am moving my maiden name as a second middle name. So I'll be Coyote Middle MaidenLast FiLast. My mother would also be hurt by my changine my middle name, so that wasn't an option (it's also a family name).
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  • kitty8403kitty8403 member
    1000 Comments 250 Love Its First Answer Name Dropper
    edited June 2014
    Christie072 said:

    @kitty8403 -- That's a good idea.  Do you know if I'd still have issues with airline tickets not matching a passport if I have a space instead of a hyphen? 

    @OliveOilsMom -- That's a good idea, too, but I don't think I can change my middle name without hurting my mom.  I was named after her (deceased) sister, so it has special family meaning.  Is there a limit on the number of middle names you can have?  Maybe I can have two?


    I don't see why you can't have two. My cousin was born with two. Some people have three or more, I think.

    Re passports, I don't know, but my guess is that there shouldn't be a problem. A lot of Hispanic cultures traditionally have two last names--one for the father, one for the mother--so I would imagine this is pretty routine?
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  • OliveOilsMomOliveOilsMom member
    Tenth Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    kitty8403 said:
    @kitty8403 -- That's a good idea.  Do you know if I'd still have issues with airline tickets not matching a passport if I have a space instead of a hyphen? 

    @OliveOilsMom -- That's a good idea, too, but I don't think I can change my middle name without hurting my mom.  I was named after her (deceased) sister, so it has special family meaning.  Is there a limit on the number of middle names you can have?  Maybe I can have two?
    I don't see why you can't have two. My cousin was born with two. Some people have three or more, I think. Re passports, I don't know, but my guess is that there shouldn't be a problem. A lot of Hispanic cultures traditionally have two last names--one for the father, one for the mother--so I would imagine this is pretty routine?
    Most of the times, the problem with legal names are according to state laws. But having two middle names legally, shouldn't be a problem. There was a recent court case in Hawaii, when a woman sued the state because her full last name couldn't be printed on a driver's license, for example. So that could be the type of problem you would encounter, but since it would be a middle name, may not be as big a deal unless you want to called by your full name including middles.
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  • photokittyphotokitty mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    You can have aliases. Your legal name is what is one SS card and passport. You can use aliases socially, professionally and one any non-legal document in most cases. If you change your name, your maiden name is an alias. If you change your name and get divorced, your married name is forever an alias of yours.

    You can call yourself Christine Aunt FatherFirst-FatherSecond FiLast or any version of them.

    I believe the social security office will only let you designate one middle name though.
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

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  • Christie072Christie072 member
    Name Dropper First Comment First Anniversary
    photokitty What do you mean by "non-legal documents"?  Would credit cards and credit card receipts (those that I sign in a store) be considered legal? 
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  • ladyamanuetladyamanuet member
    Eighth Anniversary 500 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    Hey Dumbledore had 3 middle names! And even though he's a fictional character, it is a common practice for certain families in both the UK and the US. I have NO idea of the legality of any of that. I don't think airlines require your middle name to be entered. So if your airline ticket says FirstName HubbyLastName and your passport says FirstName MiddleName MaidenName LastName, that should be fine, because the first and last name match. I don't put my middle name in for airline tickets, but it is on my license and passport, and I have never had an issue name wise with there being MORE info on the ID than on the ticket.
    My reaction to most everything on the internet today:
    image
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  • photokittyphotokitty mod
    Moderator Knottie Warrior 5000 Comments 500 Love Its
    Christie072 said:
    photokitty What do you mean by "non-legal documents"?  Would credit cards and credit card receipts (those that I sign in a store) be considered legal? 
    I think as long as you are signing them with the name on the account you're fine. It is legal to have aliases as long as you aren't using it for illegal activity or in particular, fraud. I would ask your attorney to be sure. But I my credit cards and banking info remained in my maiden name and I never had any problems.

    As long as you are doing everything ok legal - paying taxes on all incomes, SS# match, not stealing other's identity, or committing crimes, nobody seems to concerned with what you call yourself. :)
    :kiss: ~xoxo~ :kiss:

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  • Jen4948Jen4948 member
    Knottie Warrior 10000 Comments 500 Love Its 25 Answers
    edited June 2014
    True story about hyphenated names:  I once worked in a tax office and prepared a tax return for a client, whose kid had a really long hyphenated surname that didn't fit in the field in our tax application.  One of the names that was hyphenated into that surname was really long already.  So we abbreviated it, only to have the IRS challenge her dependency exemption for her kid, saying that the social security number didn't match the name they had on file.  

    We wrote back that the two names were for the same person and that on the return it had been abbreviated for space reasons, and that the kid qualified in all respects to be the dependent of the taxpayer and would the IRS please abate the extra tax as well as the penalties and interest they were trying to charge.  They did it, but it's kind of a warning to be careful about names to begin with.  As much as you might want to "recognize and acknowledge" all the different names that go into your identity, you can be making things worse for yourself or your child if you try to hyphenate too much, especially if the resulting name is really long.


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