I like a hyphen. Or even two last names, no hyphen. That’s actually my personal preference.
As in, “Meredith Pattinson Goldstein.” Or, “Meredith Goldstein Pattinson.”
Three-part names are catchy, too. Like Jennifer Love Hewitt. You just … remember it. Jennifer Hewitt sounds far less interesting.
I do know families who change everyone’s name to a blend (like Pattinstein), but that’s a bigger adjustment, and I assume you don’t want to do that.
I don’t have a magic answer. But I advise you and your husband to avoid making decisions based on what you guess will happen in your child’s future. Your kid might want to keep their name, even if they get married. They might not get married at all.
They might become a massive superstar and go by one name, like Beyoncé or Madonna, and never think about their last name, unless they’re at the DMV.
Get both of your names on the record for posterity. Treat each other well, and get excited about learning to parent together.
But don’t overthink it.
No pressure or anything, but it’s my first name that follows me everywhere. Pick a nice one.
– Meredith
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Readers? People who kept their last name after getting married, what name did you give kids? Is this a good first test in how to compromise as parents?
