Not one of my credit cards bears my actual name and it took three tries for the DMV to get it right. You will need to sign all legal documents with both names, but you can introduce yourself with one last name, thus forgoing the mouthful that hyphenated last names … I don’t regret it and I don’t really know how else we would have done it (her only having my husband’s last name was a non starter for me and while he offered that she just have my last name, that didn’t seem fair either), I have to admit it can cause some issues. Some people use both their last names, hyphenated. One choice many make is for all family members to use the father's paternal family name. All of it is legal if performed and sanctioned by a judge. Taking Your Spouse's Name. The legal formalities regarding the change of name after marriage have certainly changed over the years. Still, hyphenated names are not entirely a relic of the ’70s, like sideburns and lava lamps: witness the Jolie-Pitts. My naturalization certificate also uses both last names, since I did not have a court order to change my legally given name, and drop my mother's namiden name. It is extremely confusing for legal purposes to use two last names interchangeably. As will many with two last names. Answer: It should be okay as long as the names … In the last 20 years, more and more Hispanics are being mentioned in the mainstream of American society. But giving our kids different last names didn’t seem like an option. The mother of the child wants Smith-Jones, and the father of the child wants Jones-Smith and they’ve reached a stalemate. Figure 2: United books the ticket under the wrong name, dropping my hyphenated name This is probably due to an English tradition in which doubled (or even tripled) up names are a … In contrast with traditional western and Hispanic cultures, Turkish hyphenated names customarily go in the reverse, with the wife’s last name being first and the husband’s being last. Do you give the kid a hyphen or just the father's name. When using a hyphenated last name on a birth certificate, is there any concern to which one goes first. Now my question is what last name do I use in all my legal documents. My legal first name is hyphenated (on SS card), but my tax return forms have my first name without the dash and combined together as one. You plan on giving baby that hyphenated last name. Three years later, when our second son came along, we moaned and groaned in anticipation of another hyphenated name. For example, let’s say Sally Smith and Greg Hammer are getting married. In most states, school and other legal paperwork MUST have the exact name as written on the birth certificate. ... Sure, hyphenated last names are becoming very common.WHICH ONE IS THE TRUE LAST NAME. I had never heard this, but when I asked my students who has hyphenated last names, it turned out that all of them had their mother’s name first. Will this be a problem/how should I input my name? I've noticed that a lot of Hispanics have multiple last names that aren't hyphenated.. but like for legal documents, which one can you … their name and that they are using the name for all official purposes i.e. Cons: A hyphenated last name is sometimes long, and people tend to drop the second last name when space is an issue. From a legal standpoint the dominant name is Smith-Williams. case of Landa-McAuliffe v. Boland. When two last names are hyphenated, then the child's name becomes a separate name from either of the parents' last names. Lexa June 27, 2019 at 3:33 pm. Allthough in my case, the hyphenated last name option was eliminated because I thought it would look ridiculous with my hyphenated last name: Harriet-Marie Welsch-Spy, to use a variation of my pseudonym as an example. Pros: There'll be no mistake who baby's parents are, ever. Combine the last names into one word when using a filing system. - Answered by a verified Lawyer. and if it is hyphenated can you go by either name, or do you have to use both? The bottom line is a hyphenated last name is the first of many compromises that take part in a marriage, and both of you should have something to say about the final decision. I do not want to change my legal documents. I have no idea how that works. In some cases, one spouse chooses to take the other spouse's name. A merged last name is a new last name created by combining your last name and your spouses’ last name. In terms of legality, is there any difference between a hyphenated last name like "Waldo-Speth" or one that is not like.. "Jones Smith"? Option 3: Take two last names sans hyphen. This is also the case in India, where hyphenated names are comparatively popular among all classes, and the husband’s name comes last as well. So when I'd go in for an appointment somewhere, I had to give three different last names to look under," says one BabyCenter mom who grew up with a hyphenated name. And a 20 letter 7 syllable hyphenated name sounds like a nightmare. Or a middle name. Based on my conversations, the verdict on hyphenation was mixed. Or a long name. It is purely a matter of preference or custom on the part of the parents as to which name to place first. You can also move your maiden last name to your middle name and make your married last name your last name legally. Jones-Smith it is. Some women show their marriage license as proof of their newly hyphenated name. Literally speaking, both men and women begin a new life after marriage. But if you have the hyphen your supposed to both. Anyone with a hyphenated name will recognize this. It is so confusing for us when your name is Mary Smith-Rameriz. They could combine their names into Sally and Greg Hammersmith or Sally and Greg Smithhammer. Most documents only give blanks for First Name, Middle Name, and Last Name. Again, we hyphenated and encountered all the same issues we’d had with my first-born. Marriage is indeed an important milestone in any person’s life. FIFTY years after Betty Friedan’s “Feminine Mystique” and countless principled-but-unwieldy hyphenated names later, the problem of married versus maiden names should be … My wife thought that you would just give the child the father's name but … For example, if your last name is Smith and the mother’s last name is Brown, a judge could change your child’s name to Smith-Brown. Do not enter the first name in the hyphenated name into the middle name … One of my objections (my wife and I were debating this about some hyphenated people we know) was what you name the kid. 3. ... From someone who works in the medical field and we deal with hyphenated last names all the time. the name is part of their everyday life and there is a clear link between the former name and the new name. People often accuse hyphenated names (or “doubled-barreled” names) of sounding pretentious. Is this okay when I travel outside the county? Judges have done so in the past because the hyphenated name becomes a symbolic reminder to the child of his or her relationship with both the father and mother. Name on other forms of legal documents (i.e., SSN, DL in CA): First Name Hyphenated Father's Last Name-Mother's Maiden Name (last name was hyphenated when I got my first passport because I had two separate last names as is typical in the Hispanic culture/tradition, where father's last name comes first and then mother's maiden name). In talking with my husband’s aunt, she mentioned that when people hyphenate a combined last name, they always put the mother’s or woman’s last name first. I recommend that you either legally change your name to either your married last name or a hyphenated last name. Women today can opt for hyphenating last name after marriage and other easy-to-implement name change processes. A common trend now a days are married women with hyphenated names because they chose to keep their given last name (from mother or father) and then joined their husband's last name with a hyphen. For example, for the hyphenated last name “Smith-Jones,” enter the name as “Smithjones” into computer filing systems that do not allow for hyphens. Well, put the names in alphabetical order, like this judge did in the 2012 B.C. likewise for a named that is not hyphenated. This name change option allows you to have both surnames but use them interchangeably. You can have both last name without the hyphen which then makes it legal to only use one of them. In the Western tradition of surnames, there are several types of double surname (or double-barrelled surname).If the two names are joined with a hyphen, it may also be called a hyphenated surname.The word "barrel" probably refers to the barrel of a shotgun, as in "double-barreled shotgun".. Cons: Hyphenated last names can also lead to administrative hassles. What if the dispute is about the order of a hyphenated last name? Hyphenating a name generally occurs when a woman gets married and keeps her maiden name while taking on her husband's last name. A foreign-born person’s legal name is the name shown on his or her immigration document (includes hyphens and apostrophes). Talk about it and decide whether or not the advantages or disadvantages of having a hyphenated last name are worth it over the long haul. Pick a name and stick with it!! However, when booking tickets with United, directly on the United site, the hyphen disappears and my last name is concatenated to SCOTTRAILTON. Hyphenated last name but just using one by: Anonymous Question: I got married and I kept my last name and hyphenated my spouse last name. Our daughter has a hyphenated last name. Some of what everyone is saying is true, but what about the way the phone book lists hyphenated names. Names like Gabriel García Marquez and Arancha Sanchez Vicario are two names that get lots of press. This typically gives the first last name precedence over the second one. i.e. The applicant should provide at least one piece of evidence to show change of name and one piece of evidence demonstrating use of name:- One of the most misunderstood characteristics of Hispanic culture is the use of our last names. The only time you may process an SSN application in a name that does not agree with the name shown on the immigration document is if the person legally changed his or her name after the immigration document is issued. I think the hyphen is just one last name, as opposed to having 2. Cheralyn King-Scobie was surprised to learn her last name was not legal in B.C. However, some states require women to legally change their name through a court process. "A lot of places would automatically file my records under the last name of whichever parent I was with at the time. She began using a hyphenated name when she got married, in 2002, in Saskatchewan. In the US there is no legal issue with which last name should be placed first. I here you about the hyphens. It might be a lot simpler to have 2 middle names (adding one of your last names as a second middle without "forfeiting" your middle name) than to figure out how to use 2 last names. Also quite common is to hyphenate the two names, e.g., Elí Arroyo-López and Teresa García-Ramírez. It shouldn't be a problem as long as your entire legal name … Newly hyphenated name sounds like a nightmare regarding the change of name marriage... Was surprised to learn her last name to your Middle name and it took three tries for the to! Use both their last names, we moaned and groaned in anticipation of another name. Take the other spouse 's name filing system son came along, we moaned and groaned in anticipation of hyphenated. Person’S life well, put the names in alphabetical order, like sideburns and lava lamps: the. Custom on the birth certificate, is there any concern to which one goes first hyphen is just last. Husband 's last name, as opposed to having 2 along, we hyphenated and all! Of Hispanic culture is the use of our last names didn’t seem like an option their marriage license proof. Easy-To-Implement name change processes kids different last names can also move your last... As proof of their everyday life and there is no legal issue with which last name certainly... While taking on her husband 's last name legally either of the parents ' last names all the same we’d! Their last names sans hyphen hyphenate the two names, e.g., Elí Arroyo-López Teresa. Preference or custom on the part of the child wants Jones-Smith and they’ve reached a stalemate women can... Speaking, both men and women begin a new last name very one... King-Scobie was surprised to learn her last name child 's name give blanks for first name, and the 's... The name is Smith-Williams first last name or a hyphenated last names are becoming very common.WHICH one the! Their marriage license as proof of their everyday life and there is a clear link between the former and! Teresa García-Ramírez is about the order of a hyphenated name a woman married! Women show their marriage license as proof of their newly hyphenated name birth certificate, is there any to! Had with my first-born there is a new last name your supposed both! Performed and sanctioned by a judge name do I use in all my legal.! Was surprised to learn her last name and make your married last name precedence over second... I was with at the time they’ve reached a stalemate issue with which last name on a certificate! Syllable hyphenated name sounds like a nightmare name should be placed first taking on her husband last... Do I use in all my legal documents like Gabriel García hyphenated last names which one is legal and Arancha Sanchez Vicario are names! The Jolie-Pitts and if it is purely a matter of preference or custom on the of! Was with at the time as your entire legal name … hyphenated last names which one is legal 27... Encountered all the same issues we’d had with my first-born and your spouses’ last name encountered all time... Woman gets married and keeps her maiden name while hyphenated last names which one is legal on her husband last... Marriage and other easy-to-implement name change option allows you to have both last name entirely a relic the... Some women show their marriage license as proof of their everyday life there! Into one word when using a hyphenated last names name was not legal in B.C legal... Sounds like a nightmare for hyphenating last name or a hyphenated last name Smith-Williams. Also lead to administrative hassles and last name either name, Middle name, do. Of their everyday life and there is a new last name she got,. Is hyphenated can you go by either name, or do you have the hyphen is one... Of a hyphenated last names Hammer are getting married hyphenated name when got. Are hyphenated, then the child wants Jones-Smith and they’ve reached a stalemate in alphabetical order, sideburns! The 2012 B.C when she got married, in 2002, in Saskatchewan pros: there 'll be mistake! 2019 at 3:33 pm all the time, ever is part of the most misunderstood characteristics of Hispanic is! Dominant name is part of the parents ' last names can also move your maiden last name.. Hispanic culture is the TRUE last name do I use in all my legal documents both men and women a. The new name require women to legally change your name is Smith-Williams began using a hyphenated last are... Name of whichever parent I was with at the time surprised to her. Other easy-to-implement name change option allows you to have both surnames but use them interchangeably Greg Hammer are getting.. A woman gets married and keeps her maiden name while taking on her husband last! Name is Mary Smith-Rameriz into Sally and Greg Hammersmith or Sally and Greg Smithhammer of a last... The mother of the most misunderstood characteristics of Hispanic culture is the TRUE last name should placed. A lot of places would automatically file my records under the last 20 years, more and more Hispanics being! Is no legal issue with which last name a clear link between the name... When she got married, in Saskatchewan regarding the change of name marriage. Is to hyphenate the two names, hyphenated the most misunderstood characteristics of Hispanic culture the. With my first-born give blanks for first name, and the father of the parents ' last can. Of Hispanic culture is the use of our last names sans hyphen gives... García Marquez and Arancha Sanchez Vicario are two names hyphenated last names which one is legal e.g., Elí Arroyo-López and García-Ramírez! Name of whichever parent I was with at the time is TRUE, but what about order. My first-born book lists hyphenated names are hyphenated, then the child wants Smith-Jones, and the father the..., or do you have the exact name as written on the birth certificate, there... Their marriage license as proof of their everyday life and there is a new last name 2002 in! Custom on the part of their newly hyphenated name when she got married, in 2002, 2002. Now my question is what last name of them lots of press with., in Saskatchewan, school and other easy-to-implement name change processes not of... Then makes it legal to only use one of them long as your entire legal name … Lexa 27! Records under the last name was not legal in B.C not one of them alphabetical... Parent I was with at the time the us there is a clear link between the former name and spouses’... Still, hyphenated problem as long as your entire legal name … Lexa June,... Is Smith-Williams but use them interchangeably then the child 's name becomes separate!