Name change -- was it weird for you?

twoleighs · February 2015

FI and I have the same first name. Spelling and all. I plan on taking his last name when we get married, so we will have the exact same name. I know parts of it will cause a headache, but I think it's nifty at the same time

[Deleted User] · February 2015

I'm not married yet but it's funny because I was thinking the other day that I KNOW I'm going to fuck up and give my old last name at least a few times at work. I call people all day, leave VMs and even though my last name is 4 letters long, I have to spell it out. I'll still have to spell his (I know this from ordering pizza under his name).... so I know I'm going to have to re-record a lot of voicemails.

I didn't think I would but recently I've had this feeling that I will end up missing my old name for a few months after I make the switch...

CMGragain · February 2015

Back in my day, almost every bride changed her last name. I happily exchanged my long, hard to spell and pronounce maiden name to a short, easy to pronounce but hard to spell married name. I never had a problem with it.

wrigleyville · February 2015

All the way up to the actual name change, I was thrilled to get rid of my Polish last name. I was so sick and tired of spelling and pronouncing it for everyone.

When I got my new driver's license, though, and saw it all official-like, I wanted to cry. I had this split-second ridiculous feeling of, "I don't match my family anymore," and got kind of emotional, but it passed a couple seconds later. It was just a weird feeling. I'd had that surname for 36 years, so it was a bit of a deep-breath moment.

Anyway, I was at the doctor's office a few weeks later, and they called my name. I thought, "Oh cool! That's H's name! Weird!" They called it a second time, and I officially felt like a dumbass when I stood up. I apologized to the nurse, and she kind of laughed it off. Apparently, it's pretty common.

We got a wedding invitation a few weeks after we were married, and I did a little dance when I saw our matchy names.

KytchynWitche · February 2015

I'm in name-limbo at the moment. Socially, I'm using DH's name, but legally I'm still my maiden name because the registration of our marriage hasn't gone through at Home Affairs yet. South Africa sucks like that. I can't change my name with the bank or any of my service providers, or make appointments with any state departments (traffic office etc.) because according to Home Affairs I am not yet married.

Things I've signed up for since the wedding are in DH's name, except at the casino because their database is linked to the Home Affairs database (I assume to prevent fraud) so their system wouldn't allow them to register me with DH's name.

I've already had MIL accidentally open mail meant for me though, because it was addressed to Mrs DH (we share a post box).

AddieCake · February 2015

It was weird for me only because I'm a teacher and the kids started calling me a new name in the middle of the year but former students were still calling me by my maiden name.

redwoodoriginal · February 2015

SO weird for me... I went from a Hispanic last name to a white last name, so at work some coworkers were like WHO IS THAT PERSON!? and then they see me and are like OH WOW! You changed your name! I had no idea who I was passing off to...

Initially I wasn't going to change my name, so when I did, I too felt a pang of sadness to let go of my maiden name, so I made it my middle name. I still geek out when we get mail to Mr&Mrs or when I saw my name change at work on paper for the first time.

I also get really confused at the drs office/pharmacy/etc bc my insurance info still has my old name and I get confused bc I hand them my ID with my new last name but my insurance is my old last name... what a pain! But i'm glad i did it..

SBmini · February 2015

I'm starting to get used to it. Married in April, officially changed my name this week. I just slowly eased into it. First I changed it on health insurance. Then when I started making appointments with people I started using them. It started to get to where I would say my new name first instead of my maiden name. We're refinancing our house, so I knew I had to get it done if I wanted my new name on the paper work. It put my butt into gear to make it official.

Of course, the social security guy said "good luck with that" when he saw what I was changing it to. Thankfully, I've heard that enough times that I'm not offended by it any more. It is a difficult name.

charcoalandblush · February 2015

I'm excited to change my name. I doubt I'll have any regrets/second thoughts. I'm not close to my dad, so I don't feel super attached to his last name.

We got a christmas card from one of my BMs addressed to "The Future Mr. & Mrs. Df Lastname" and I weirdly got SO excited! It was so adorable.

Wegl13 · February 2015

It has been incredibly hard for me, but I am going by DHlastname socially only, and my last name officially/professionally. It took me six months to figure out that the people saying Dr. Mylastname were talking to me, I'm not about to change again. So I go by Mrs. Hislastname and Dr. Mylastname. But the confusing bit comes when I do things that require ID- do I go as Mylastname or Hislastname for things like doctors, etc? Still haven't figured that one out.

huskypuppy14 · February 2015

Wegl13 said:

It has been incredibly hard for me, but I am going by DHlastname socially only, and my last name officially/professionally. It took me six months to figure out that the people saying Dr. Mylastname were talking to me, I'm not about to change again. So I go by Mrs. Hislastname and Dr. Mylastname. But the confusing bit comes when I do things that require ID- do I go as Mylastname or Hislastname for things like doctors, etc? Still haven't figured that one out.

For doctors I'd use your legal name, especially since it should match your insurance card.

Name change -- was it weird for you?

Re: Name change -- was it weird for you?

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