Here Are Places Women Can't Take Their Husband's Name When They Get Married (2024)

FAQs

Here Are Places Women Can't Take Their Husband's Name When They Get Married? ›

In Malaysia and Korea, it is local custom for women to keep their maiden names, and although there is no law stating that they cannot take their husband's surname, it is a relatively foreign concept. Custom dictates that women keep their surnames in many Spanish-speaking countries as well, including Spain and Chile.

China. Traditionally, unlike in Anglophone Western countries, a married woman keeps her name unchanged, without adopting her husband's surname. In mainland China a child inherits their father's surname as a norm, though the marriage law explicitly states that a child may use either parent's surname.

A married women will use her maiden name on official documents, unless she goes through the official change of name process. A change of name in Belgium is accepted if the person has the nationality of the country or territory where a change of name is allowed.

The concept of a woman taking a man's last name goes back to the 15th century when women were legally considered their husband's once they married. But it wasn't until the 1970s when many states began shifting their laws to make it easier for women to keep their surname upon getting married.

Women keeping their last name upon marriage gained popularity with the feminism movement in the 1960s and 1970s, with some changing their maiden last names to something else entirely since that name had originally come from their fathers, she added.

“Mrs.” is the proper title for a married woman whether she has taken her spouse's last name or not. This was not always the case–you used to only use Mrs. if you were taking your husband's first and last name– but times have changed!

Many women choose to hold onto their married name after a divorce because of their children. Sharing the same last name can make women feel more connected to their children. It can also provide a sense of stability for younger children who will not understand why their mother has a different last name.

When you marry you are free to keep your name or take your new partner's name but one thing is clear—it's absolutely your choice in most states and countries around the world. It's come down to a matter of preference and personal choice.

A mononym may be the person's only name, given to them at birth. This was routine in most ancient societies, and remains common in modern societies such as in Afghanistan, Bhutan, Indonesia (especially by the Javanese), Myanmar, Mongolia, Tibet, and South India.

Do French women take their husband's name? ›

In some cases, a woman may take her husband's name as a "usage name". This is not a legal obligation (it is a contra legem custom, as French law since the Revolution has required that no one may be called by any other name than that written on their birth certificate), and not all women decide to do so.

That's according to a report by Pew Research Center's Luona Lin that finds nearly 4 in 5 women adopted their husband's last name when they married. Among those who didn't, 14% kept their own last name and 5% hyphenated both names.

Most women in opposite-sex marriages (79%) say they took their spouse's last name when they got married. Another 14% kept their last name, and 5% hyphenated both their name and their spouse's name. Among men in opposite-sex marriages, the vast majority (92%) say they kept their last name.

In the Bible, there is a sense of headship in marriage (Ephesians 5:23,1 Corinthians 11:3,1 Corinthians 11:8-9, etc) and by taking a man's last name some would argue this is a form of headship and biblical submission.

Meaning. Ms. is the proper way to describe any woman, regardless of her marital status.

It all comes down to one word: coverture.

You will face judgement from others. Although it's getting more popular, keeping your maiden name is still not the 'done thing'. Older generations in particular may consider this move unusual, or even disrespectful to your husband. You'll constantly have to remind people that you're married.

It's important to accept that such a choice is ultimately an individual one. “Do what feels right, and don't let society, your partner, friends, family, in-laws, or anyone pressure you into a decision,” Sobel advises.

When women marry, they customarily retain their given name and patronymic but adopt the surname of their spouse (although not always). For example, when Inga married Dmitriy Vladimirovich Ustinov, her name changed to Inga Igorevna Ustinova.