picked a name... I think.

[julz25]

Aria Ann. I just don't know what to do about the last name. Baby daddy and I aren't together. Mine is Carretta and his is Armstrong. So both long last names. We did agree on the first name so that is good. I have debated doing it hyphenated but it will be soooo long for a name. I dont want to just use mine, it would cause a fight because he is passionate about the last name and wanting his. I have debated doing it hyphenated and then if he steps up, hasn't been around much so far, change it after a year or two to just his last name.

[Amy1830]

Got cut off!! We had a bad relationship but I didn't want to cause a fight by giving the baby my name so I gave him his which is Jimenez. I thought it was neat too, because I am white so having a Hispanic last name would always remind him of his Colombian heritage which I think is interesting. But his father turned out to be a deadbeat and has for the most part never been in his life. Now my son is 9 and he is upset that he has a different name then me. He brings it up all the time. Because I'm getting married and having another baby and we will all have the same last name, except for him. I'm planning on trying to change it since he hasn't even seen his father in years. I would suggest giving the baby your name and then if the father turns out to be a great dad you can change it down the road. But if you use his last name now and he turns out to not be such a good dad and you end up raising your child on your own for the most part, you will never be able to change their name to yours without the fathers permission. And even a crappy dad will probably have to much pride to allow that.

[Amy1830]

I gave my son his fathers last name and I totally regret it. At the time we were together but had a horrible relati

[julz25]

I have coworkers who have children with a different last name and they have never had any problems. And most issues can be resolved with a birth certificate.  Hell, 6 or so years ago my neices wanted her ears pierced. I am only 11 years older than her. My sister said go for it. Say you are her mom and do
it. With different last names they never questioned us. So I really am not worried about that. I just wanted to get opinions.

[calimommy00]

Terrible advice SaSa28! Definitely NOT true that if the baby has his last name it will cause hardship later for her down the road. Absolutely not. Alot of women have different last names as their children and not 1 problem has arose. Please dont listen to this. School registration,  documents etc you will be fine. Good luck.

[SaSa28]

Hun if you and dady are not together, use your last name. Using his will case hardship for you down the road. You will not be able to travel across borders, you will have a hard rime rwgistering for school and soforth on. My first has his dads last name we are not together and have not been for a long time. Infact he has very little to do with our son. Though if it werenot for court documents stating that I get to make all major ddesisions life would be hard as itvis I have to carry the document everywhere with me and my son. My other 2 have my name and things are much easier to do. Their fathers have not been a part of their lives either. Though I dont have to fight through the system as my name and theirs is the same. Hope things work out for you

[KristiGG]

I am married to my children's father but never changed my last name when I married.  So all my kids have two middle names, the one we chose and my last name.  Then his last name as their actual last name.  The nice thing about that is they dont have to put all the names down when taking a test or whatever but it is still apart of their identity.   And likeyou said you can always change the last name if he doesn't play a role and step up.  Otherwise I think a hyphenated would be a good compromise to make everyone happy.

[julz25]

Yea. That's why I dont want to cut him out or doing anything I know would pissing him off. He already has a daughter, almost 8, and she has a hyphenated last name. Her mom's last name isn't as long as mine is. He is involved in her life and I am praying he will take the active role he says he will. I have 4 or so years to decide if I want to drop my last name. If he knows I am leaning that way, I think it will make a difference too.

[beckyy28]

Just my opinion.. He is still the father. Even if you guys are not together, that's still his little girl too. Just keep that in mind. They say a mother becomes a mother during pregnancy and a father becomes a father at birth. So maybe things could change for the better..

[C_J_4]

Been there I ended up using my last name and the original middle name I wanted as baby's middle name and gave him his last name but he seen him once he's 3 now and I had his name changed to mine and just kept tbe one middle name, its a hard decision specially when your not sure if there gonna step up or not but im glad we have the option of changing it if needed, good luck and wishing you the best.