Do you have to change your name just because you marry him?

Nope.. Not mandatory at all. In fact, you can legally change or assume any name that you desire, so long as it is not done to commit acts of fraud or evading.

lynnemg..a ‘time honoured’ tradition.hmmmm. IS that to mean that because it has always been that way?? so why not?
Thanx lynne, for expressing it like this. I imagine that may well be the answer of many, never to question or need to question, perhaps??

BUT, zoey!!.. so you wouldn’t want to tell them while you are filling in the official government form that you were planning to commit some kind of crime, ..er.. right?
aaah! Just what I needed.. a reason to chuckle and smile. Thankyou ma’am!!

Hi book, fjaril won't mind me going off topic here for a moment(will you fjaril dear) but we heard today of a new German supermarket chain opeing here cheaper than the other one we have Liddl. Any idea which chain is expanding South and any good or not? HAve a great weekend too book.

hi thea I hope fjaril wont mind but Lidl is an awesome discounter. They have a great range of products, some name brand but also some generic stuff and its really worthwhile buying there.
The only thing you got to be careful is veggies and fruits. Best is when you are able to be there in the morning here its best around 9-9:30 whn they have unpacked the fresh stuff for the day. When you get there in the afternoon you will not he likely to get the really good stuff any more.

OKEJ YOU TWO!! Get a room!

((pssssst.. They have the very best ever Mueslli... 'Goodis'( I blieve) is the brand name and this mix is wonderful.. fruit and nuts and all things fine..the best I ever have eaten and I eat it every day at least once -and in yogurt!))

soo, book.. your maiden name was complicated so you wanted to get rid of it?? So how is the marriage??

Just kidding.. but I can understand reasons like that.. emotional baggage is something you should leave at the airport, or in your case.. it was the altar, right?
I am so glad you are much happier now, with a very common German name.. let's guess.. Schmidt??
((Don't answer that of course,, privacy is an important right here, my friend.. I am just playing here.))
Take care, book!! Be well.

hi fjaril not Schmidt nor Müller nor Meier but still common enough so no one will misspell that name ever. lol
And it was real emotional baggage with my maiden name not because of the wrong spelling but cause my parents divorced when I was not quite 2 and all my father had in store for me were lies about my mom and trying to make me as miserable as he could so thats why I was happy to get rid of that name.

aaah book.. really really I am sorry for your tough times.. I remember them well myself, so I know..You took control and made a decision to better your situation and there is NOTHING wrong with that.. even if you have a fairly common German name.. Nothing wrong with belonging to a strong and proud people, is there!

Finally,, a practical reason.. I have been waiting for you, rocketj..So you are this smart practical dental person who sees all these benefits so that everyone gets their benefits. WOW! Does the American Government not need you to help run something?

nono.. don't answer that. I would not want to lose you here, you see.
Be well, my friend. wonderful to see you again!

Oh, you know all about the practical Dutch, right? lol As for working for the government, I think they need a lot more help than I could ever give them!

hahaha.. You are too modest. But you are also right in 'another' sense!

Beating around the bush as usual, I see!!

Okej, you say this all like you mean it and with THAT kind of conviction, far be it for ME to try to change your mind.. Not that I ever would want to, my friend!

NOT like you could either!!!

I asked for that and I pay the price. I know when I am outsmarted, dearest outsmartor!!

GOOD BOY!!!

Now Patsie Hatley!! Say it like you mean it, girl!! That scream felt good coming from YOU! I mean it! Remember Helen Redding?? "I am woman, hear me roar"!!
You are YOU and independent and, what is more.. you can hypenate to your content now.. are you planning to remarry one day? If so, you could even get him to add YOUR name?? what do you think?

I think I actually did a discussion on surnames not so long back, but that was Greek style.

thea, I miss a smiley here in mylot clapping hands so please take this comment as such a smiley...... have a great weekend.

I have not for one split second considered you capable of being an appendage of any nature whatsoever.. or person either!. THAT doesn't come anywhere close to what I think of you.. and THAT is as close as I am going with this one.

If you had a choice, and of course you do!!, what kind of a name would it be then? Not the one you had,. you didn't like it.. but what actually rolls well off your tongue??

Well i'm most partial to Theothoriakais which rolls easily. It sounds better writtne in Greek obviously and loses a lot in transliteration.

well I like it!!niiice! Rolls well on my tongue.. and THAT is important.. Could I spell it tomorrow?? Not a chance!! Could I spell it in 5 minutes, though.. Get real!! It's all 'greek' to MEE!

Well you can't expect me to go round marrying a load of Scandanavians just so you can pronounce my new name.

noooo.. never.. we have bigamy laws here too, you know? Never mind your erroneous view on vikings.. we live by the book here. the legal one, I mean! One cannot just run around collecting men with names!

I like your name AND what is more, I can pronounce it.. I also have forked tongue due to multilingual misusage.

One should have a name one is proud of .. Are you that, then?

I'm confused now, you now like the name I fancied which last week you couldn't pronounce but now it's tripping off your tongue. That is why I thought you wanted me to come and find a Swedish name,I wasn't planning on taking yours.

Well you just can't go around taking names anyway.. unless you are talking about marriage or something.. THEN yes! What does your name mean?? THAT is really important when you should be thinking of a name.. Mine refers to a certain tree branch!

FIVE ARMED NUNS!!.. I feel you are very serious in your committment and far be it for me to even question
My hands are up and I have no argument with you.. okej?

I am all for the freedom of choice.. so if the choice was yours, all the better. Your avatar is so cute, ya know?

Yes, thank you, I do know that my avatar is cute. It is a picture of my son

he is such a cutie too!

LittleMel.. a western name?? I am soo not up on my western names that I would recognize a difference in geographic placement. But, obviously YOU know quite well and that is truly all that matters.

I don't need to 'know' everything, do I!!

I am inclined to agree wholeheartedly with your view. Taking on the name of your husband does not in any way detract from the personality that makes up who you are. in a relationship, those things are determined by how the couple interacts with each other, not in whether or not the name is taken as a family name or the wife keeps her maiden name.

I like how you expressed it here. The taking of one name sets the whole family apart as a unit of its own. Otherwise, the one keeping her maiden name is almost separate or not a part of the family unit, in which case why get married.

A name does not possess you. Just ask one of my husbands whose names I took if they ever thought of me as their property...ha!, what an answer you would get.

It is a choice, woman today use the hyphenated name combining their maiden name with the husbands name. I have no objection to whatever a woman chooses.

You CAN get your name changed but you do not have to. Also, you can have both last names and get them hyphenated. hope i helped!

aaaaah cloudwatcher,, What a delight you are! You KNOW I love to sit here and just read and reread what you say and believe. It is such a literary delight too, so well thought out and written.. sigh!

Well thanx for your information here Brad. Of course it helps! Welcome to myLot!! Thanx for dropping by and giving your thoughts!!
Take care and have fun too!!

paintwithwords!! very well spoken, indeed! “ A name does not possess you”!! brilliant!
and yes, it IS a choice, and for me, THAT is a very important thing.