For decades, the standard procedure was simple: get married, take your husband's name, and update your passport. But the landscape of modern marriage has changed. Today, a significant number of women (and men) are choosing to hold onto their birth names.
Whether it is for professional continuity, a sense of feminist identity, or simply to avoid the mountain of paperwork involved in changing it, keeping your maiden name is a perfectly valid and legal choice. However, it does come with a few logistical considerations.
Here is everything you need to know about bucking the trend and keeping your own name.
Option 1: The "Do Nothing" Approach (Keeping it Legally)
This is the simplest option available. You do not need to sign anything or notify anyone. If you want to keep your maiden name, you simply continue to use it.
The Implications:
- No Paperwork: You save hours of time and money. No passport updates, no DVLA forms, no bank visits.
- Proving the Marriage: In day-to-day life, people might not realise you are married. This is rarely an issue, though you may need to produce your Marriage Certificate in specific situations (like medical emergencies or visa applications) to prove your relationship to your spouse.
- Titles: You can still change your title. You can be Mrs. Smith (your maiden name) or Ms. Smith. You do not need a Deed Poll to change a title, as titles are not part of your legal name in the UK.
Option 2: Professional Name vs. Legal Name
Many people feel torn. They want the romantic unity of sharing a family name with their spouse, but they have spent years building a reputation, a client base, or academic citations under their maiden name.
The solution? Change your name legally, but keep your maiden name professionally.
How it works:
- You use your Marriage Certificate (or Deed Poll) to update your passport, driving licence, and bank accounts to your new married name.
- You inform your employer that while your legal name has changed (for payroll and tax purposes), you wish to be "known as" your maiden name in the office, on email signatures, and on business cards.
The Implications:
- Checks: Background checks or DBS checks will need to list both names.
- LinkedIn: You get the best of both worlds. Many people list themselves as Sarah (Jones) Smith to be searchable by both old and new contacts.
Option 3: The "Middle Name" Compromise
If you want to take your partner's name but aren't ready to let go of your maiden name entirely, you can turn your maiden name into a middle name.
Example: Sarah Jane Jones marries Tom Smith and becomes Sarah Jane Jones Smith.
The Implications:
- Deed Poll Required: You will need a Deed Poll for this. A Marriage Certificate generally only authorises you to replace your surname, not to move it to a middle name position.
- Best of Both: This preserves your family link while allowing you to share a surname with any future children.
The Big Question: Children
If you keep your maiden name and your partner keeps theirs, what happens to the kids? This is often the biggest sticking point for couples.
If you have children, you have a few choices:
- Double-Barrel: The children take both surnames (e.g., Smith-Jones). This is very common, though it can create long names.
- Alternating: Some couples give one child the father's name and the next child the mother's name. (Note: It is generally advised to keep sibling surnames consistent to avoid administrative confusion at schools and borders).
- Mother's Name: There is no legal requirement for children to take the father's name. They can take yours.
Travel Tip: If you keep your maiden name and your children have your partner's surname, you must be careful when travelling abroad alone with them. Border control is vigilant about preventing child abduction. If your surname does not match your child's, always carry a copy of their birth certificate (and ideally a letter of consent from the other parent) to prove you are their parent.
Conclusion
Your name is a fundamental part of your identity. Whether you keep it, double-barrel it, or move it to the middle, the choice is entirely yours. There is no legal obligation to take your partner's name in the UK.
However, if you decide that a compromise—like moving your maiden name to a middle name—is the best fit for you, we can help facilitate that legal change.
Ready to rearrange your names to suit your life? Contact us today for advice on the Deed Poll process.
