How do gay people pick which last name to take

“Will you take your husband’s last name?”

This is the patriarchal question heterosexual brides-to-be are often asked, as if their pre-marital identities should promptly cease to exist once they tell “I do.”

It’s an antiquated expectation that the bride will make herself an extension of her husband and his lineage, yet around 70% of American women still accomplish it, including me.

Initially, I retained my maiden name for professional reasons, but more than two years into my marriage and just one month shy of my 30th birthday, I legally took my husband’s name. I considered myself lucky that no one had asked me the question or put unnecessary pressure on me one way or another, but I was prepared for it.

Men don’t have to prepare themselves for such questions.

In myriad ways, men are immune to invasions of private matters and gendered expectations. Most men, including the majority I realize, wouldn’t consider being so “insulted” as to submit themselves to the very demands they place upon women, including changing their own surnames to their wives’ surnames once they got married.

In evidence, Brian Powell, professor of family and gender at I

Name Change after Lgbtq+ Marriage

What Are the Advantages to Keeping My Maiden Name?

One of the main issues an individual may encounter when they change their name is that it can be a time-consuming process that requires changes on many distinct documents. In some states, if an individual changes their name after they get married, they have to adjust their name on their marriage certificate in addition to paying the required fees.

Additionally, the individual changing their label will be required to do so on any government issued identifications, which include:

• Passports;
• Driver’s licenses; and
• Social security cards.

There are also numerous other items that an individual may contain to change their name on, including, but not limited to:

• Credit cards;
• Health cards;
• Banking cards;
• Insurance bills;
• Utilities; and
• Other items.

If, however, an individual keeps their maiden name, they will not be required to produce any of these changes. It is also important to consider that, if an individual has a well-established career, especially if they are self-employed, if they change their last name, it may result in less name or brand recognition.

There are also some individua

​​10 Queer Couples on How They Picked Their Married Last Names

Names are a massive part of our identities—we utilize them every unattached day. And for something as personal and important as what you’re literally called, it’s lovely bewildering that you don’t actually gain to pick the one you obtain.

Chances are you know the backstory of your first name; maybe it was inspired by a fave family member or an iconic historical figure. (Or maybe your parents just liked it!) But last names are alternative. In the U.S., surnames uphold centuries-old patriarchal traditions. In 2002, researchers establish that about 97 percent of married couples passed down only the father’s last name to their first youngster. A 2023 Pew Research study revealed around 80 percent of women opted to take their husband’s last designate, while only 14 percent decided to keep their have, proving that even in 2024, we’re still, mostly, doing things the way they’ve always been done.

But in most queer affair structures, hetero norms and outdated legal practices are thrown out the window. When you don’t always have one male partner whose last name gets chosen by default, you’re faced with an exciting project: picking a fresh n

Same-Sex Marriage - What/Who's Surname to choose?

Our "Guest Blogger" - Hazel from "IDOONABUDGET" has, very kindly, common some ideas on what to do regarding your surnames once you've "tied the knot" - who's name do you choose? Do you keep your own surname? Take that of your partner? Include a read below for some great ideas - we LOVE the notion of "Meshing" - sounds like fun trying to make up a name!

Have you thought about what you and your significant other are going to act with your surnames upon getting married? 

Among the numerous traditions surrounding marriage one of the big ones is the bride renouncing her last name and taking her husbands. But how does this translate to same-sex weddings? Especially as increasing numbers of heterosexual women are choosing not to take their husbands name and more heterosexual men are opting to take their wifes name or double barrel with her. 

What should you do with your last name when you earn married?

Even though it may be customary for identical sex couples to maintain their own surnames, there are many other options available that may be perfect for you. The truth is the equal options are available to same sex couples as

How to choose your baby's last name

As families evolve, so does the perform of giving your infant a last name. Mothers are keeping their maiden names, husbands are taking their wives' names, queer partners are taking each others' names or making up a new one, and some couples are opting out of marriage altogether.

Fortunately, there's a resolution to almost every baby-naming problem, and giving your baby a hyphenated specify is only one option of many. We've listed several crowd-pleasing alternatives here, along with the pros and cons of each and thoughts from other BabyCenter parents.

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Baby gets the dad's/partner's name

Pros: The default choice in the Joined States is to donate your child the last name of their father. This tradition is practiced by parents in a variety of situations – including heterosexual couples, lgbtq+ couples, couples who adopt, and couples who select not to marry. In general, this old-school technique of giving a toddler a last name is easy and agreeable, regardless of whether the mother changes her name or not.

"It was very crucial to my husband to share a name with our kids,