What are my options in name changes after marriage?

Traditionally in the United States, it is customary for the bride to take on the groom’s last name as her own after they have tied the knot! This is by far the most common and popular choice, but within the last few decades both men and women have taken advantage of the many options of “name changing” that are out there. Although a bride has many options when it comes to choosing how she wants to be named, there are several key factors that will more than likely play into this decision. Some of these factors are things such as, tradition, religion, values, family expectations, peer effects, professional standing, commitment, desire to keep a family name, consideration of a child, and ease of pronunciation and spelling. The following are some of the many options available to bride and grooms regarding their name changes. For the example, the bride, Lauren Ashley Roberts is marrying the groom, Jonathon Michael Smith.

• Lauren Ashley Smith- this is when the bride simply takes on the last name of her husband. This is the most common and causes the least confusion.
• Lauren Ashley Roberts-Smith or Lauren Ashley Smith-Roberts- this is when the bride uses both her birth last name (maiden name) as well as her married last name. This allows the bride to keep the valued family name with her even after she is married. This can be written with a hyphen as shown or without one.
• Lauren Ashley Roberts-Smith and Jonathon Michael Roberts-Smith- this is when the bride and groom both use both last names. Again, this can be hyphenated or not.
• Lauren Roberts Smith- this is when the bride replaces her middle name with her maiden name and adds on her husband’s last name as her own. This allows her to keep her birth name but makes for a shorter version.
• Lauren and Jonathon Robertssmith or Lauren and Jonathon Robsmith- this is a creative option. The bride and groom can combine both of their last names to make a new last name that will still incorporate both of their previous names.
• Lauren and Jonathon McWilliams- this is when the bride and groom choose an entirely new last name all together. This provides the new couple the freedom and option to choose their last name.
• Jonathon Michael Roberts- this is when the groom decides to take on his bride’s last name.
• Lauren Ashley Roberts- this is when the bride simply keeps her entire name as it is before she was married.

Another option that many brides choose is to officially and legally change their name to match their new husbands while still going by their maiden name in the professional workplace as well as in social situations. This is definitely to the bride’s advantage if she has built a substantial reputation on her maiden name. This may also lead to confusion when it comes to paperwork because there will be discrepancies in paperwork and things. If you choose an option that is not the most common, taking your husband’s last name as your own, or even sticking with your current name, make sure and check with your local authorities to confirm that it is a legal and valid option in your area.