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Hyphenated last names
Married Life / 12:35 AM - Wednesday February 10, 2010

hyphenated last names

If Linda Harris married Robert Smith and wanted to hyphenate last names, which is correct?

Linda Harris-Smith
Linda Smith-Harris

why? is it alphabetical? is it man's name first? woman's name first?

- Asked by girlkaren, A Thinker, Female, 22-25, Denver, Student

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I suppose the more common way would be Harris-Smith, but I don't know that either is more correct than the other.

- Response by mikehug, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 46-55, Cleveland

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Linda Harris-Smith.

It's her maiden name first, then her husband's name.

- Response by piscesrising, A Thinker, Female, Who Cares?, Boston, Internet / New Media

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I have seen it done both ways

a few female friends had established themselves before marriage

and chose to take his last name first and then hers.

And are often still know in their maiden name form.



- Response by morningdust, A Creative, Female, 46-55, Self-Employed

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why don'tthey make a completely new name out of combined syllables? Like Linda and Bob Harsmith or Smithar or Smitris, etc. Have known two couples who did this to get their new married name.

- Response by cakelady, A Cool Mom, Female, 46-55, Denver, Food Service

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It is the woman's name first. Don't know why.

- Response by renoirgirl, A Creative, Female, 36-45, Who Cares?

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traditionally male names go first

- Response by vancitian, An Intellectual Guy, Male, 26-28, Vancouver, Artist / Musician / Writer

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I hope my future wife just takes my name so our family can be called by one name. When one parent has a different last name, it alienates them from the rest of the family.

Just my two cents. :)

- Response by workplay, A Career Man, Male, 29-35, Los Angeles, Internet / New Media

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I hope my future wife just takes my name so our family can be called by one name. When one parent has a different last name, it alienates them from the rest of the family.

Just my two cents. :)

- Response by workplay, A Career Man, Male, 29-35, Los Angeles, Internet / New Media

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maiden name first. or just change both last names to Same. Linda Same and Robert Same.

- Response by headscratching, A Mr. Nice Guy, Male, 46-55, Science / Engineering

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my wife has her last name first then mine last... i didnt care if she changed it..

- Response by j3s5e, A Rebel, Male, 29-35, Los Angeles, Who Cares?

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I believe it'd be Harris-Smith, with her maiden name,
then the added surname she picked up by the marriage.

- Response by fehkarfight, A Couch Potato, Male, 46-55, Who Cares?

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HARK! ~FEHKAR HAS SPOKEN!
It is to BE, Harris-Smith

- Response by fehkarfight, A Couch Potato, Male, 46-55, Who Cares?

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Fehkar calls 'em... Harris-Smith it IS!

- Response by nogood, A Life of the Party, Male, 46-55, Celebrity

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Isn't it suppose to be the man's name last, because of the law. I don't know. My sister's drivers license is that way.

- Response by lifestyle, A Father Figure, Male, 56-65, Houston

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It would be Linda Harris-Smith. The woman maiden name comes first then then surname of her spouse. Actually you can have it Linda Harris Smith without the hypen if you want also.

- Response by delight800, A Thinker, Female, 29-35, Atlanta, Self-Employed

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Personally, I think hyphenated last names are dumb. Pick one or the other, or come up with something else, or just leave things as they are an don't change your name at all.

It makes spelling difficult and it sounds stupid. I know a few people with hyphenated last names and they are always getting mail with the names revered, and most people seem to forget which one comes first.

- Response by A Creative, Male, 29-35

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Usually, it's the woman's maiden name first, then the husband's name after the hyphen. When the name is listed alphabetically, it's listed by the maiden name, since that is the beginning of the last name,
I didn't change my name when I got married, because I was attached to my own last name and I warned him before we married that I wasn't going to change it. Not because I didn't like his last name, but because I liked mine. His family had more problems with it than he did, which was always fun when we got together. After 13 years of marriage, I think they've accepted that my name is here to stay.
When we had our daughter, we hyphenated her last name, putting my name first and his second. Works for us and she loves it because as she says, "I came from you AND Daddy, so I should have both names." She's 9, by the way.
As far as the law goes, when you get married, you're legally changing your name so you can change it to anything you please, in any order you please. Whatever is more comfortable for you.

- Response by sweetgapeach, A Married Girl, Female, 36-45, Other Profession

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It'd be her maiden name hyphen married name.

- Response by seductivepisces9, A Thinker, Female, 29-35, Tokyo, Military

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gergrg

- Response by nachtgazer, A Guy Critical, Male, 29-35

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well.. i think whichever way you like it to be,
http://www.easynamechan ge.co.uk/name-change-gu ide/

- Response by nachtgazer, A Guy Critical, Male, 29-35

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