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It used to be a given that when a woman got married, she changed her last name to match her husband’s (and any children’s that might come along).
Nowadays, though, people are doing things differently, and women are taking the time to actually consider whether or not a legal name change is right for them.
These 2o women decided against it, and their sharing their reasons below!
20. We’ve got better things to do.
Like, a whole lot of them.
Seriously. I got halfway through the process and quit.
— Dr. Elizabeth J. McPoopson (@ElleMcPoopson) March 22, 2018
19. They might be an exception.
It’s still a valid point though.
my husband didn’t even take his last name? https://t.co/BMo6OsgcVv
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 22, 2018
18. She’s still the same person.
Why should her name change?
My husband‘s last name was his stepdad‘s stepdad‘s last name. AND the first name “Rain“ does not go with very many last names, especially my husband’s (Slaughter). But even so: I would probably have kept mine because I see no good reason to change identities because I married.
— Rain Perry (@rainperry) March 22, 2018
17. A short list.
Of very excellent reasons.
1. I'm a journalist & made my career on my name.
2. Can't be arsed with bureaucracy of changing my name.
3. It's a tradition that's not for me.
4. I don't love my husband any less because I kept my name.
5. Men don't have to identify themselves by marital status so why should I? https://t.co/N4w5cV2JTs— Georgia Lewis (@georgialewis76) March 22, 2018
16. She’s connected to it.
As are we all.
My last name is my history.
— Swan (@Grendelrocks) March 22, 2018
15. As simple as that.
It’s kind of weird to change it if you think about it that way.
My name is my name, his name is his name
— girl next door. (@zedabesaying) August 20, 2017
14. It could feel like starting over.
And no one wants to do that.
all of my life accomplishments are connected to my last name. Why does getting married overrule all of my hard work?
— Lalenya (@kwinnit) March 22, 2018
13. Maybe it’s time for a change.
Equal partners and all of that.
I didn't take my husband's last name and we've been happily married for nearly 17 years. If we'd chosen to have kids (yes, another choice, not a law), we would've given the kids both of our names. There's no need for women to lose their identities when they marry. #outdated
— Jayna Rowden (@GEAUXJayna) March 22, 2018
12. If it ain’t broke…
Y0u know how the rest of it goes.
Why wouldn’t I want to take a man’s last name? Cause he’s marrying me, not adopting me? Duh. My last name works just fine. Thanks.
— Kristy (@geekhausen) March 22, 2018
11. I think we all know the answer.
We can say it again, though.
it would feel like losing a part of myself. Also why should I take his and he not take mine .Who created this tradition ?Men did🚮
— Gücci (@BlackCoffee_74) August 20, 2017
10. It never hurts to have options.
Or at least, for the other person to realize you do.
Kept mine because I am my own person. But I tell my husband it is to keep my options open, that he is my *current* husband.
— SoniaJ (@sj_ca1867) March 22, 2018
9. We’ve had it a long time.
There’s something comforting in that.
I just like my last name. Simple.
— 🖤BORN TIRED🖤 (@AbbyLuscious_) August 20, 2017
8. In a nutshell.
What are the reasons TO do it, honestly?
1. I like my name
2. I’m too lazy to do all the paperwork
3. This isn’t 1952— Jess (@adventures_jess) March 22, 2018
7. It can be a career decision.
But it doesn’t have to be.
I had too much business, legal, and personal, in my maiden name to dissuade me from changing it. It never mattered. Perk: I have a credit card in my maiden name, and a credit card in my married name. It’s no big deal. You get 1 SS #. It stays with you😘
— Marty Jones (@JonesMartyha) March 22, 2018
6. Because men don’t have to?
I’ve never really thought about it that way…
BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
— Shinjini Das (@SpeakerShinjini) July 4, 2020
5. He didn’t earn it.
Props to you, girl!
it's my Ph.D, not his lmfao https://t.co/9JEG6koGhp
— ass crack bandit (@ass_crackbandit) March 22, 2018
4. Right there will be fine.
And don’t hog my sun.
Because no one can eclipse my sun honey. You must step to the side and stand beside me and not in front of me. My equal not my owner.
— Doreen🫶🏾 (@Doreenglm) August 21, 2017
3. It’s a lot of work.
Who has the time?
Paperwork. And new social. And with new social, new ID new drivers license new bank accountinfonewnumberstoremembernewsignituretopracticenewwaytointroduceyourselfnewblablabla…
Skip all that. Keep what you got.— 2 (@monster_dnd) March 22, 2018
2. No one wants to feel like that.
Or at least, they shouldn’t.
Is part of my identity and dilutes my pre wife accomplishments, felt taking hubby name devalues me, independence, identity and successes
— Keri-Lynn Power (@LadyJusticeNL) August 26, 2017
1. It’s really not a big deal.
Or at least it doesn’t have to be one.
I keep meaning to take my husband's. I like it a lot. It's waaaay fancier sounding than mine. I'm not a fancy person who is "organized" and can "get shit done," though, so we're celebrating our 8th anniversary this year with different names. Whatever.
— Tenletters (@Tenletters) March 22, 2018
It’s always interesting to hear people’s reasons for things like this, but a simple “I didn’t want to” is fine, too.
If you decided to keep your name after marriage and want to share your “why,” our comments are open!
