Should women change their names when marrying?

just not to men's names

I'm not dating anyone named Steve

If they want to.. that's how it is now anyways, right?

Depends on the name. Depends on the woman.

yes, its a sign of respect and devotion...only exceptions would be if a career had been established under the previous name, it would have to be a career where name is important...

I changed mine when I got married. I did it because we were a family and I felt that we should be united by the same last name.

When I got divorced, I changed it back. It was a matter of respect, or lack thereof.

i changed my last name back to my maiden name when i got my divorce.

my daughter has already stated she is going to use my mom maiden name for her last name instead of using mine. which is no big deal when she gets her divorce.

i used to babysit for this couple that had 2 kids and his wife never took his last name. so when they got divorced she didnt have to worry about changing her last name

It depends on the relationship, and what you want to do. Personally, I'll probably change mine (unless his is something awful--then if he wanted to change his to mine, that'd be ok!). But if you want to keep your individuality, I don't see a problem with that either.

One of my favorite books has a passage where Aaron Carpenter and Shelley Carpenter (no relation) argue about whether he should take her name or she should take his. She suggested they hyphenate and be Carpenter-Carpenters! LOL!!

and the man

I think most women wouldn't mind becoming Rockafellers or Kennedys or Hilton

but if his name is something that you can't say without laughing, like Hinklefister. I think she should keep her own name

What she said

You wouldn't be dating her anymore. You'd be MARRIED to her.

But what about a woman like Stevie Nicks??? She may have a dude's name, but she is still gorgeous.

well, yep, she is right up there with Barbarella in my book


I guess if papersmile were to change her name to Butch I woud just have to get used to it

oh oops,

"butch" has connotations

I don't want to change my last name if I ever get married again. I went through the first 18 years of my life with a funky last name now I have a normal one and want to keep it that way.

I kept my last name after divorce, for my children had that name. and the last time i had no children but asked him to keep the name, he didnt mind its a way better name than my maiden one. I dont look at it as his name, but as my name.

What they said

If a woman wants to change her name, she should. If a woman wants to keep her last name, she should.

I kept my married name after the divorce,cause i like it better

plus its such a hassle to change your name back everywhere....