Last names...

[renee101]

hi everyone!!

not baby related but I was curious...

has anyone heard of the man taking the womans name when they get married?
my DP and i have been talking about it and i'm not keen to take his last name (its mcdonald, theres just too many jokes.... :D ) and i've always wanted to keep my name anyways.
but he wants us to have the same last name, and wants to take my name, is this possible???? has anyone done it or know of anyone doing it??? :confused:

Thanks!
Renee

[nkenward]

Hi there,

I think anything is possible, depends on how you think about it - the other option is to hypernate (I think that is how its spelt). There are so many people doing that these days.

Another thing to consider - someone I worked with had a son called Neil, she had kept her maiden name (unless you asked you wouldn't have known), but the problem lies that it was Kneale (pronounced exactly the same as Neil). I have to say she keeps getting plenty of odd looks when they think the child's name is Neil Kneale and has to explain all the time.

Another issue (this one is quite funny, and I think McDonald is quite ok when you think about it) - my mother's maiden name was Fluck - that's right!!!!! :D . I was so glad she didn't have to think about giving up her name for a basic name of White (and that gets some jokes too!). But I really feel sorry for my cousins that have had to grow up with that surname, they have had some problems with that ever since they started school.

So what ever you decide - it can't be any worse than what is above. My uncle grew up with the nickname 'No 'L'' :D

[oscarsmilkbar]

Hi Renee

My fiance is Macdonald. To be honest he doesnt get mocked about his surname at all. There are a thousand ++ worse surnames than this that's for sure. I'll be taking his name when we get married. My son Oscar is a Macdonald.....unless you are looking at "old" or "ronald" as a first name for a child i think its AOK!!!!
:)

[renee101]

my main reason was i would prefer to keep my last name, and he has no problem with changing his, he actualy wants too!! i actually dont have a problem with his last name, it was more him that doesnt like it.
i didnt mean to sound like i thought his last name was bad! forgive me,
but his fathers name is actually ronald!! how cruel some parents can be!

would you just do the same things to change his name as you would if you were changing the wife's name???

[nkenward]

Fair enough. I would think it is the same procedure, I am assuming it happens when you sign the documents before you are allowed to get married. I can't quite remember the name - the licence thingy.

But you could always contact or research through Births Deaths & Marriages website - they will tell you what you need to know.

[renee101]

just got an e-mail back from Birth, Deaths and Marriages. they say that a husband just cant assume the surname of the wife, like the wife would do after marriage. apparently only the wife can just assume the name without actually changing their name on the birth certificate.
so we have to actually change his name through birth, deaths and marriages and pay $110!!!

i dont understand why it wouldnt just work the same way as women changing their names?!?!?

[xkwzit]

Hi Renee
I also had to change by name via deed pole (sp?), as I wanted to add my maiden name as a middle name. It was a bit strange because if I'd wanted to hyphenate my last name it wouldn't have been a problem - but adding my maiden name as a middle name was.

I thought it was a small price to pay to legally have the name I wanted. At the time I was going to do it to my children and thought that I'd better try it out first. Good thing I did, because I changed my mind :rolleyes: (sometimes having 4 names is a bit inconvenient).

Cheers

[RuthK]

Renee

I kepy my surname and my husband kept his. The kids have both surnames. If we're booking in somewhere as a family I have no problems using his name. I think we have a right to retain our own surname. I feel that because I am older than my husband I have had my name for longer, so why should I change it?

Look at all the possibilities.

R

[Mischief]

I have a friend at work who changed his last name! When he and his wife first got married they both kept their names, because she wanted to carry on her name....

When they had a child, John changed his last name to his wifes last name, so they wouldnt have to have hyphenated last names for their children!

:) Do whatever you guys feel is right!!!

[renee101]

yeah, we both have names starting with "m" so the hyphenated just sounds silly to us, plus i am a family of all girls and like ur friend would like my family name carried on!

[BlueGin]

I recently got married, and just took my certificate around to places likes banks, uni, medicare to change my name. Today I went to change my license and they said new laws (as of our wedding date :confused: ) are that I have to go to births deaths and marriages to get a different certificate to have my license changed! Bizarre, usually the banks have all the red tape :rolleyes:

[Mischief]

I remember alot of giggles, smirks and one girl who actually cried...when I got married and took our certificate around to change everything!

Tassie is well known for the *imbreed* jokes...we I was a smith, and i married a smith..... Of course, my smiths are from NZ...my hubbies smiths are from Tasmania....but still...we had alot of laughter and people telling us to hyphenate our names...etc! :-)

[oscarsmilkbar]

Hi Renee!

No it didn't sound like the surname was bad...no 'forgive me' necessary. Wow...Ronald...what were the parents thinking.....we I suppose as long as he doesnt go around wearing yellow suits with red hair and red shoes!!..

Hope you work out the name business. I was going to have our children carry both our surnames but felt it was a bit long with a 2 syllable - 3 syllable surname.
anyway..good luck :) :)

[renee101]

the funny thing is his dad (Ronald Mcdonald), when i met Ron he was wearing a yellow and red shirt, and actually has strawberry blonde hair!!! omg, i had to bite my tongue to stop the laughter :D :p

[oscarsmilkbar]

lol!!...that has to be unfortunate with the hair colour!