Deciding to take your new husband’s name is a huge deal for many brides. It’s a very personal decision that is different for every woman. From my own personal experience, I was concerned about the name I had made for myself in my career and losing my identity that I had know for close to 30 years. But I knew moving forward that I wanted to create a family with my husband and it was important to me that our children had the same last name as me.
I discussed my concerns with my husband and ultimately I choose to take his name after weighing my options. It took at least 6 months until I was comfortable with my new last name. There were many instances where I was called by my new last name and didn’t even recognize they were talking about me.
Establishing myself in my profession was not as painful as I anticipated either. I was able to notify my previous employers through LinkedIn and I sent out an office memo to my current employer explaining the name change.
While the change took some getting used to, I’m happy with the decision I made. I now feel a strong sense of family with my husband that I am excited to pass to our children someday.
Mrs Forever has compiled all the resources you will need to guide you through the name change process. We hope to help take some of the anxiety and stress out of changing your name so you can relax and enjoy being a newlywed!
Here are some name change options to consider and discuss with your future husband.
Take you husband’s name
Keeping with tradition, it is most common for women to take their husband’s last name after marriage. Many women feel that having the same last name as their husband forms a strong family bond, especially when children are involved.
Keep your maiden name
Some women choose to keep their maiden last name to avoid any professional confusion with their careers. Another option is to choose to keep your maiden name professionally, but use their husband’s last name at home.
Hyphenate your name
Hyphenating your maiden name with your husband’s last name can be a good compromising choice for you and your spouse.
Alternative options
Some couples decide to create a new last name by combining both last names together. While others decide that the husband will take the wife’s last name. Both of these options need to be researched to find out what kind of legal procedure needs to take place in your state.
Yes I did already go through the name change process! We did that the week after the honeymoon…
I decided to keep my maiden name as my middle and take his last name for my own.
Crazy process!
I love to write my new name, but it is still so weird to hear it and realize that someone is talking about me!
WOW I never realized what a pain it was to make all these changes. Thanks to your website it was so much easier!!
Thank You
I took my hubby’s last name and never looked back.
Thank you so much for providing useful name change information. After searching the internet, I became so frustrated with all the misinformation and pay services out there. Your truly a time and lifesaver! I’m telling every bride to be about Mrs Forever.
Good advice on here with changing your name. Although,I think it’s pretty ridiculous that women today are expected to take their husband’s name. As women, we have to plan the wedding already and then deal with the headache of changing our names. The only caveat for me is having children. If I choose to keep my maiden name, will people think my children aren’t mine? It would be great if combining last names was common practice and all it took was contacting SS who then contacted all the gov’t registrations automatically!
It would be great if the Social Security office would notify all other government agencies of your new married name. I would also settle for being able to notify all those government offices, like SS, DMV, IRS and passport services online without having to fill out paperwork.
Until then, we are happy to make the name change process a little less confusing for new brides. I wish a site like this was out there when I was changing my name. It would have saved me a lot of time and headaches!
This is going to be VERY helpful. I will be using this very soon. You saved me so much stress! ^_^
This site is awesome.. so many others with confusing links and huge fees.. thanks so much for making this one so easy and free!
It helps to make an otherwise stressful part of getting married a breeze… Thanks!
Hi, I found your blog on yahoo. I’m pretty gladto have found your websitebecause I think it is interesting! Really good content. Ruth
The 2 different forms for changing your name on the passport are actually the same and only work if you have had your passport less than a year. Can you put the correct form for the one where you have had it more than a year?
U.S. Passport DS-5504 Form – This one is correct
If you have had your current passport for MORE THAN 1 YEAR, use this form:
U.S. Passport DS-82 Form – This one is NOT correct.