baby's last name...

[animalmomma]

So my husband and I have different last names. I kept my maiden name because it's part of my identity and he understands. Now with a baby on the way we have to decide on a last name and I'm thinking of going with a separate name, not his or mine, is this possible?

[animalmomma]

Thanks for the support. My husband and I  had originally planned on changing our last names to a family name we could agree on. But his worry over his family changed his mind so this child and any future children will have the same surname and maybe later we can change ours to match our kids.

[Crystalann43]

I would also hyphenate. I grew up with a different last name then my mom and dad, then my siblings all have a different last name (their dads last name) and I always wished i could've changed mine. I hated all the questions about my last name. I never felt like comfortable with my last name. I will definitely be giving my little boy his dad's last name, which will be mine as well. Good luck :)

[Van818]

I think it will depend which country you are in. Generally it is possible. If you want your child to have an individual surname and match yours, then perhaps yourself and your husband could add that name to your surnames! I want our son to have my surname, we are not married but I would never choose to change my name. My partner already has 2 boys from a previous marriage. I only have sisters and I would like our family name to continue, especially as my partner already has his name in the next generation.

[keke3712]

I'm just curious to why you would do that?

[hothotsauce]

My sister and her husband ended up doing that. Ultimately they both plan to change their last names to match their daughter but they've never had trouble with travel to my knowledge. Why not do it if you want to?

[khojcassel]

I chose to hyphenate my last name because I did not want to give up part of me. With my kids they have my husband's last name, but my maiden name as a second middle name.

[eesscott]

I knew a couple people growing up who had different last names than their parents and they didn't like it very much.  They said it made them stick out and feel like they had to constantly explain to people why their name didn't match either of their parents.  I know one of them ended up changing their name to their fathers family name once they became an adult.

[carrie1986]

If you travel a lot crossing the border will be timely with 3 last names. My sister's daughter had a different last name than her and her husband and got questioned both times at the border for over 3 hours and have to carry documents all the time. But yes it is possible :)

[M0t0_M0MMa]

Usually the child goes with the fathers last name, it's possible to pick something completely different but why would you want all 3 of you to have different ones?  

[hothotsauce]

Yup, sure is