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I’ve only been at my job for a little over a year– the nameplate outside my office is brand-new and I have a large stack of business cards I’ve barely made a dent in. But six months from now, I’ll fill out paperwork for a new nameplate and a new stack o’ business cards– I’m going to change my name!
The feminist in me demanded that I at least consider *not* changing it. And I did– I’ve had my name for as long as I can remember. My awards, papers, and diplomas are in my maiden name. And the process of changing names seems like a lot of paperwork, hand-wringing, and hair-pulling.
So why am I changing it? Because my fiance’s last name is a lot shorter 
Okay, that’s not the only reason why, but it’s a biggie. My current last name is long and frequently mispronounced. My whole life, I’ve cringed as people completely butchered my last name in unimaginable ways. I once had an elementary school teacher mispronounce my name so it rhymed with something really embarrassing. Talk about mortifying! So the the idea of changing to a really short, extremely easy to pronounce name is very appealing. Plus, I have a brother to carry on the family name
Do any of you like your new last name more than your old one?
I have always had a love-hate relationship with my last name. It is always mispronounced and mispelled, it such a unique last name, that I will be sad to see it go. Unfortunately, my fiance has the same problem with his last name. I keep telling myself that it is 3 letters shorter so that is 3 less letters that I have to spell. My new name won’t be as good, but I always knew that I would change my name when I got married.
I do wish that I was marrying someone with the last name of Smith or Jones, but in some way and glad that I am going from one unique name to another no matter the hassles that it causes.
Love my new name. It is really weird though. Like I’m part of a different family, not the family I grew up with?
I’m looking forward to my new name, although it’s a little harsh to my ears (very German). My last name is currently and has always been hyphenated. This caused me a lot of angst as a kid where people would drop one name, think one was my first name or reverse them completely. Even now, because of my hyphenated last name, people think I’m already married, which is even more confusing. I can’t wait to simplify!
Funny. As much as I loved being a _ _ _ _ (and will always feel like a _ _ _ _), I’ve always felt my maiden name was kinda blah. As well as always misspelled and mispronounced - even though it’s only one letter off from many common words such as Path and Bath! People just see it and start adding their own letters!! I looked forward to the day I would get married and change my name - even though I didn’t know what that new more exciting/easier name would be!
My new name is still only 4 letters - but it has a Z in it 
And that’s fun! I don’t think I’ve had a spelling/pronunciation problem with it yet!!
I’m really looking forward to my new last name — Ross.
It’s short and sweet and sounds good with every first name!
I have the same issues as you, Miss Jasmine!
My maiden name was 11 letters long and is frequently butchered!!!
My DH’s last name is 5 letters long and a lot easier. (But, it’s already been mispelled a few times by credit card companies and the like-which I just find hilarious!).
I’m 34 years old and have been at my company for 12 years, so it’s been interesting to say the least to change it. It was a hard decision, but I’m glad I decided to do it. (And, still am in the process even after 2 months of doing it–it’s such a pain!)
I’m still not used to it and still can’t answer the phone with my new name–I keep going back to my maiden one. =)
I’m currently debating this in how it affects my website. I have my firstnamelastname .com registered, but what would be my firstnamenewlastname .com is already taken as it is much more common.
I’ll probably keep the old domain as a redirect, but I need to get creative with the new one.
well my fi’s last name is the same length as mine, but his starts with an L and mine starts with a W. I hate always being at the end of the alphabet! i always sat at the back of a classroom or was called towards the end because of my w last name.
argh!
my maiden name is only four letters long, but people have always had a hard time with it. my married name will never be misunderstood and i love love love it! it’s a nice bonus for the name change. would i have jumped to change my name had mr. onion’s last name been long and difficult — i’m really not sure.
I’m considering the hyphen because his last name is so plain! Plus then no one would know I’m Asian from my last name alone - is that weird?
ha ha I’m with you on this….every conversation is like, “G - g as in george, a as in apple, t like thomas” plus 7 more letters to go…I can’t wait to have a more simple name but will miss my nicknames associated with my maiden name…
I think my soon to be new last name is great! My children will thank me as they will have moved up in the alphabet! No more waiting until the teacher has sat every other student before them! They will be greatful, I’m sure!
My maiden name and my married name are just qualitatively different. I did, however, legally change my name so that my maiden name is now my second middle name to honor my upbringing and professional and personal accomplishments.
I have the same issue, I can’t wait to change my name from the long Sri Lankan one to the short Irish one =)
My last name is 12 letters, but it’s not getting much better - his is 10 and often misspelled. Good thing I usually just go by my first name at work.
I’m with ya Miss Jasmine - hurrah for simpler last names! But let me ask you this - if you brother never got married/had kids, do you think you’d consider keeping your last name or give your own children a semblance of your maiden name?
SH: I think I would. In fact, I still go back and forth about making my maiden name my middle name. I can totally understand wanting to retain some of your background/family in your name, considering how important names are to our identities.
Cookiechristina– that’s why I think it’s totally cool that you’re hyphenating your name. I would want my name to still give some indication of my ethnic background too.
I’ve gone back and forth about changing my last name. I have a long (11 letter), ethnic last name that I love. Hyphenating it isn’t an option because I don’t want to have a tongue twister for a name.
I thought about making my maiden name my legal middle name, but then I would lose my actual middle name, Rose, which is a family named passed down for generations.
Oh, what to do?
In the end I will most likely change it to the Old Boy’s last name for ease and so that our future children and the two of us will have the same name. Of course, once I change I’ll have the exact same name as his sister!
I don’t necessarily like it more, but it did bump me up to the top of the alphabet (B name) so I am at the very top of the teacher list at school, which is fun. 
People often butchered my old last name, too.
For now, I only like it the same. I was looking at my mom’s email address (my parents have been married for 31 years) and how it’s in order with my brothers…and was kind of sad! I also noticed (can you tell I was emailing yesterday?) that a couple friends dropped the middle name all together for the maiden name to be a middle name and wondered if I should have done the same.
It’s still new and I haven’t changed my name everywhere so I’m still half Kari K—– and half Kari B—–. A lot of people compliment me on how cute my new name sounds and I do like it a lot, but I think it’s a change I’m still getting used to.
Hehe all this alphabet talk is making me sad! I went from an A to a Z and the majority of my name changing hangups are from condemning my future kids to the back of the line, haha.
Jasmine, like you I really felt I should seriously consider not changing and I did, but ultimately I like my new (short!!) last name better. My maiden name was incredibly generic and I don’t even share it with hardly any relatives, so I never had a real “family” connection to it.
Cookiechristina - I have the opposite problem as you! I’m white but my new last name is obviously Chinese so I have the reverse assumption of ethnicity issue. Haha oh well!
I kept my maiden name as a 2nd middle name though, so I just write First Maiden Last a lot of places and don’t use my first middle name all that often. So hopefully that helps with the confusion some but I don’t have to lose my original maiden name - which was, haha, my mom’s maiden name!
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Mrs. Jasmine, Chicago/LA Age and Occupation: 25, Attorney Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Attorney Engagement Date: March 24, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: September 20, 2007 Venue: Hotel on the westside of Los Angeles About Me: I'm a happy-go-lucky, imaginative spirit trapped in the body of a lawyer. I love reading, shopping, dining out, and exploring my beloved adopted city of Chicago with my fiance. We're planning the wedding of our dreams in my hometown of Los Angeles and we're excited to incorporate our cherished Indian/Pakistani customs and traditions.
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