whos name to take

that's down to personal choice. as I have a very unusual surname that is very tied up with my family history, and the place we are from, I will keep my surname, and as his surname is short, I will double barrel it, so that his surname comes after mine (it just sounds better that way round. if you put a short one before a longer one it sounds strange to me)

I wonder if their is a convention to this. I always thought it was just a matter of preference. They could both hyphenate their last names, perhaps.

In the UK, the US and some European countries, the custom is for the woman to take the man's name. In a few cases people hyphenate the two names with the man's name last. In certain professions, especially the stage, entertainment, writing and sport, the woman does not change her name. There is a growing trend for each to keep their own name but for the children to take the father's name.

I am not sure but I think that it's a preference. I guess the couple talks about it and decides from there whether or not they take each other's name, or whether one takes ones name, or they keep their name!

Hi thickylady, In my country,if a woman get married its automatically be in her husband last name.But the country where i live you can choose w/c one would you like to have.Just like a man can get the name of thier woman or the woman can get thier man's last name but also they can also be same as thier own last name.I think that defends on the person,like for example a woman who have very higher degree and career doesnt want thier name to change.Its also happen in other country.If you will have problem with changing your name then you should'nt change it.But if it will be more easier for you i think you know already the answers to this questions.Have a nice day and take care your self. Greetings From Che!

I don't know how it works in other countries but in the US its tradition that the woman takes the mans last name. I've been told that these days you are allowed to keep your last name though after I had gotten married (now divorced) I was refused a drivers ID renewal because of the fact that I was still using my maiden name so I suppose it also varies by state and how far back in the days when women were nothing but property they are stuck in.

Why should it matter? Heterosexual people ask the same questions. Just because one's a man and one's a woman doesn't mean that the name problem is automatically solved. For homosexuals and heterosexuals, there are the same issue. I think it's up to the individuals getting married, what name they will use.