One of the first things I did after getting married was change my name. I decided to keep my entire name and add my husband’s last name. This left me with four names, no hyphen. Choosing not to hyphenate was my partly because I wanted to take my husband’s name entirely, I felt it showed commitment. It was not a hard decision, but when a relationship ends creates a new and more difficult choice.
Women who have changed their names and then divorced have to choose whether to keep their married name or go back to their maiden name. One woman wrote about this choice and how being a mother makes it more difficult. Ana, who wrote “Don’t Believe the Hyphen,” says she had a difficult time because of her son. “Not only does Connery [her ex-husband’s last name] forever connect me to my son, it also captures an important time in my life, much of which was filled with plenty of highs.”
Many women are married just long enough to establish themselves in the business world with their married last name. They feel the name connects them with their children. I can’t say what I would do if I ever divorce. I’ve seen women who keep their married name for years after a divorce and women who change back to their maiden name as soon as possible.
What did you do when you were married? Divorced? How did you make the choice?
