Maiden name: Switch back or not?

Maiden name: Switch back or not? MsHippie: I'm curious to know what some of the other women here chose to do regarding their married name during their divorce. I told my lawyer I was going to go back to my maiden name. I've been re-thinking that over the past week or two and now am unsure of what I should do. I would like to share the same name as my children, but I'm not fond of the thought of keeping my STBX's last name for obvious reasons. I never really LIKED my maiden name simply because it's complicated to spell and always gets mispronounced. My married name is simple and (at the time of our marriage) I was thrilled to take it.

What did you do, and for what reasons? I'm definitely wanting some different perspectives here to help me make a final decision..... Thanks!!!  ;)
Re: Maiden name: Switch back or not? brokenbaby: I am taking back my maiden name.  It is always mispronounced and hard to spell but I am still taking it back.  I see my last name as a family name and I was never made to feel like I was a part of my stbxh's family so why would I want to keep their name?
JMO
Re: Maiden name: Switch back or not? IlliniGirl: MsHippie~

I went back to my maiden name.  I really didn't have any reason to keep his name, as we didn't have any kids, but I think that even if we had had children, I still would have went back.

I didn't want any further ties to him.  I was and am my own woman, and didn't want to be tied to him anymore.

I understand about your maiden name being complicated and hard to pronounce.  Mine is too.  But the way I looked at it, I was born a K, I was a K when I was with him, and I'll be a K long after he's gone.  I am proud of who I really am, and having my maiden name back reflects that pride.

Now that's not to say if I were to get married again that I wouldn't change it to my new hubby's......I'm not sure if I will or not though.  That will be something I will decide when and if the time comes.
Re: Maiden name: Switch back or not? charmed: I kept my married name.

My reasons:

I have children that share this name.

I like the name - it's rather unusual and only four letters.

My maiden names was ALWAYS mispronounced and misspelled by others, although it's easy to figure out if you try LOL Only two syllables.

There is a lot of work in changing your name. You have to contact utility companies, banks, social security, credit card companies. Some require lots of identification.

Changing back to my maiden name may cause some estranged people not to be able to contact me if they would ever want to. People I met while I was married may not remember my maiden name. Maybe it was never mentioned. I've lost touch with a few friends that moved out of state, but it wouldn't surprise me to hear from them again.

I had my married name longer than I had my maiden name. To me it would seem strange going "back" to a name I wasn't used to.

I came very close to going back to my maiden name, despite all of the above mentioned reasons. I liked the idea of having my family name, but realized my children are my family and sharing a name with them was important as well.

I thought that by going back to my maiden name would close a chapter of my life out entirely. I thought that if I ever got into a new relationship (as in marriage) that it would seem more appropriate to go from my maiden name to my new husband's name.

In the end, keeping my married name felt best for me. This is an individual thing.


`charmed
Re: Maiden name: Switch back or not? Irony: I think there seem to be pros and cons to changing your names back..
Mystbxw has already opened an email account in her maiden name.. if anybody'd like to send her harrassing emails let me know and I'll give it to you.

I really like you people a lot, no matter what your names are  ;D :-* :P