POLL: name change - why/how/when

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name?

Why/why not?

How did your decision affect others/not affect others?

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing?

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name? Yupper

Why/why not? Tradition, plus I was happy to become MRS. C!

How did your decision affect others/not affect others? It didn't really affect anyone, except me and getting used to it

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing? The most frusterating are stumbling across accounts that I haven't changed yet. You know those credits cards you never use, or the dermotoligist that you don't frequently see. I call and sound like an idiot when they ask for my info..."name?", "...errrr Nicole L?....no? Nicole C?" I've moved a few times over the past few yesrs too and changed my number. So then it goes like this..."Address?", "errrr...Maple St...No?...Thistle Dr.? nooo how about Charles Dr.?" and then once again for number. Jeesh!

Yes. It feels right, and it will just make things so much easier. If we have children, we will all have the same last name. Picking up a package at the P.O or rental office, with me not needing to argue that I really am his wife, despite the different names, etc.

Not sure about the third question, I really think it's the bride's business whether she wants to change her name or not, she has the right to do what ever she pleases either way.  :)

The most frustrating part, is being a foreigner and having to do this, because it is sooooo much more complicated and expensive to have to change the name of simply EVERYTHING. 

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name?In the process of changing it now

Why/why not? Marriage is a lifelong commitment. My husband is my family now and we want to start our own family together. It makes sense for me to share my family's name

How did your decision affect others/not affect others? Doesn't really

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing? It actually hasn't been too hard. DMV was the biggest PIA but only cus of the hour long wait but it could have been much worse

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name? That's the plan

Why/why not? I'm only getting once we will be together forever and one day we will have kids and its important for all of us to have the same last name.

How did your decision affect others/not affect others? I don't know nor care if anyone is affected by me changing my last name.

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing? I don't know yet I hope everything is easy.

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name? Why/why not?

No :( Not allowed in Quebec. One of the many random nonsense rules in this province.

How did your decision affect others/not affect others? Noone can so didn’t affect anyone lol

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing? Frustrating because all my relatives in the UK think I’m a feminist for keeping my name lol until I explain it for the millionth time. Also frustrating because the kids don’t have the same last names as their moms here unless hyphenated…can cause issues on many levels. 

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name?

Yes.  I am...working on it.

Why/why not?

Although I will gladly say I'm a strong feminist (and oddly enough, getting married only made me more so), it just seemed logical.  And my name is common.  There is another girl, a year younger than me, went to my same university, marched the same instrument in the marching band (with me), was in my band sorority, is also a teacher, who has the same first and last name as I did.  Seriously.

How did your decision affect others/not affect others?  I've tried to keep up certain privacy things on FB, for example, because I am a teacher, and so I've shifted display names and what not.  DH's parents are thrilled, and at my bridal shower, my MIL gave me a nameplate with "Mrs. (my new last name)" on it, which her mother-in-law had given to her when she married my FIL.

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing?

The frustration never seems to end.  I often find myself a day late and a dollar short with many things, and changing the name hasn't been an easy process.  I don't mind the changing of the identity...it's just remembering where I put my birth certificate that's not so easy, y'know!?

Did you change your maiden name to your spouse's name?  Yes, I did.

Why/why not?  Tradition, partly, but I also feel a sense of unity in sharing the same last name as my husband.

How did your decision affect others/not affect others?  My students and co-workers, mostly.  Since I started teaching in January of 2005, I was always Miss Moore (or as some students nicknamed me, Miss Mo').  When I got engaged in 2010, my students (who were seniors at that time) somewhat protested and said, "You will always be Miss Mo', no matter what!"  My students this last academic year were prepared for the name change and some wanted to get an early start on it.  However, I still left at the end of the year with my students still calling me Miss Moore.

What was the most frustrating part of changing/not changing?  All of the documentation!  And there's still one credit card company that hasn't gotten the name change and address change taken care of!