In today’s society, it’s common for a woman to take a man’s last name when she gets married. However, about 20% to 30% of women refuse to follow this tradition. They’ll either keep their own last name, hyphenate her last name with the new last name, or even come up with a totally new last name for both to share.
As you might imagine, there’s a lot of thought that goes into making the decision to not take your husband’s last name. One tweet by @MercyFul recently got a lot of attention after asking the question of why: “I’d really like to hear the reasoning behind women who won’t take their husband’s last name,” the tweet stated.
And boy, did the people of Twitter deliver. Apparently, there are tons of reasons women decide they don’t want to take their husband’s last name after getting married. Check out the top responses below (even one from Chrissy Teigen)—and be sure to check out the entire thread here.
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my husband didn’t even take his last name? https://t.co/BMo6OsgcVv
— chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) March 22, 2018
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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
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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
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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
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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
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My last name is my history.
— Swan (@Grendelrocks) March 22, 2018
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My name is my name, his name is his name
— miss oyindamola (@zedasays) August 20, 2017
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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
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1. I like my name2. I’m too lazy to do all the paperwork 3. This isn’t 1952
— Jess (@adventures_jess) March 22, 2018
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I just like my last name. Simple.
— 🖤BORN TIRED🖤 (@AbbyLuscious_) August 20, 2017
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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
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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 “Big Energy” Caven (@DoreenCaven) August 21, 2017
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it’s my Ph.D, not his lmfao https://t.co/9JEG6koGhp
— ass crack bandit (@ass_crackbandit) March 22, 2018
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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 (she/her) (@geekhausen) March 22, 2018
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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
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It honestly never occurred to me to take his name. I’m still the same person. Why would I change my name?
— Robynn (@woollythinker) August 23, 2017
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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
Are you for or against taking a man’s last name—why or why not?
