Women changing their names when married?

[FrustratedPoet]

Change? Don't change? Hyphenate?

If you're married, what did your wife do in this regard? Was it her decision or a consensus? Did it cause any arguments?

If you're not married, what are your feelings on this matter? Would you rather the lovely lady in queston changed her name?

Personally, I wouldn't care either way. In fact, if anything, I would prefer it if she DIDN'T change her name .... I think that'd just be a bit freaky .... it'd feel like I was ****ing my sister or something.

And before anyone asks: No, I have no plans to get married in the immediate future.

[reds4ever]

Women should change their name because after they're married they belong to their husbands.

[Az]

I am not sure if I care.

[MikeH]

My friend's wife changed her name to Beelzebub Dark Lord of Hell, most strange.

[Q Classic]

traditionally, korean women do not change their surnames when they get married.

imho, however, whether the woman changes her name or not is her decision. if my future wife decides to keep her name, or hyphenate it, or change it, it's fine with me. i don't plan on changing my last name, thus i don't expect or particularly desire her to change hers.
(although i understand the husband changing names is common in some other cultures?)

[The diplomat]

It's a harmless tradition. Heck, I am a guy, and sometimes I wish I could change my name when I get married. Some of the women that I have dated have had such cool last name, so much cooler than mine.

[General Ludd]

I'd rather change my own name. Well, depending on who I marry I guess.... but it shouldn't be hard to beat the name I have.

EDIT: What am I talking about? I'm not going to get married.

[Buck Birdseed]

It obviously depends on the feelings of the couple in question. But generally, if one name is cool and the other common/unspellable then the other party may well chose to go for it, doesn't matter whether it's the male or the female. My sister's husband changed his name from the hard-to-remember-and-spell Kaunismäki to my sister's Pollak, because it was a cooler name. Another one of my relatives' husband went from Larsson to the more unusual Füri... But the other way as implied here is fine too.

[The Templar]

Is there some kind of marriage zeitgiest here on Ape?

Anyway, don't change and don't hyphenate. Women are recognized as people now.

[Robert]

My wife took my name.
I'm very happy with that because it makes things easy. We're two people of the same house and we have the same name.

If we might ever get any children they'll have the same name as well. It'll keep things simple.

It's a tradition that the woman takes the man's name, but if my wife would have refused that I would have token hers. Just to be sure to have the same name.

I hate it when I call to a colleague in example, and then someone with a strange name takes the phone. I'm not sure, is it his wife? His girlfriend? His housekeeper or did I just dial the wrong number?

But indeed, it doesn't matter much if two maried people don't share the same name, but I just like it to keep things simple.

[CerberusIV]

The weird thing is when her name gets changed even if you're not married. When we moved in together she sorted out the utility bills and explained we weren't married. I pay the bills.

We get an electricity bill addressed to "Mrs (her surname)", a gas bill addressed to "Mrs (my surname) and a water bill in both our names.

I suppose this says more about the quality of staff employed by the utility companies than anything.

[Buck Birdseed]

Poly! Ape?

[reds4ever]

Originally posted by The Templar
Is there some kind of marriage zeitgiest here on Ape?

Anyway, don't change and don't hyphenate. Women are recognized as people now.

But how do you prove ownership if she gets lost and handed in to the police station?

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by CyberShy
I just like it to keep things simple.

Two names in one head?! No-one can live at that speed!
[/Izzard]

[FrustratedPoet]

Originally posted by reds4ever
But how do you prove ownership if she gets lost and handed in to the police station?

Brand her ass with your sign.