With the wedding quickly approaching my upcoming name change is weighing heavily on my mind. I always dreamed of changing my name. I was THAT girl doodling my boyfriends name on my scratch paper. Now that the time is actually here and it is no longer a dream...I am freaking out. I have always been very sentimental, love traditions, and love family things. My name fits all of those categories.
Lindsey=my fathers middle name
Marie=my grandmother's middle name
Dawson=my families name and my oldest nephews first name
Does it get anymore sentimental that those? How can I just give them up. Justin will be my husband...and I want to take his name. But for some reason I'm having some internal conflict about this. And the spelling is an issue....Lindsey is commonly misspelled. (with an E, with an A, with a Y....you name it...I have seen it). My current last name is fairly simple...people can sound it out. My new last name, "Haire" is a disaster for spellers....Haire, Har, Hare, Hair........I'm already twitching at the thought of someone spelling my name...."Lindsay Hare" (twitch, twitch)
So the question is....do I drop my middle name? Do I keep them all and add Justin's name? Do I hyphenate? Oh the possibilities.
I guess I'll just have to get use to going to restaurants and putting our name on the waiting list and answering the question..."What's the last name?"....."Haire, that's H-A-I-R-E"
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Dear Lindsey Marie Dawson Haire,
ReplyDeleteKeep them all!!! Having four names is cool! :) Don't let anyone tell you otherwise! You can have the best of both worlds!
Love,
Rachel Elizabeth Ann Bell
I totally understand. I went from Showalter to Zimny, neither of which anyone can spell. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI kept Showalter as my new middle name for emotional attachment--and to make things a little easier legally since Showalter would always be present. But, I didn't have the attachment or historical ties to my old middle name like you do, and you shouldn't have the legal concerns I did since you're marrying a tried and true American. :)
All in all, the name thing was really weird for us, too, but you'll get used to whatever you end up choosing eventually. Good luck!
I totally understand. I went from Showalter to Zimny, neither of which anyone can spell. Ever.
ReplyDeleteI kept Showalter as my new middle name for sentimental reasons--and so it would be easier for us legally since Showalter would always be present. However, I don't have the attachment/historical ties to my old middle name like you, and you shouldn't have the legal concerns we did since you're marrying a tried and true American. :)
The name change was definitely a weird thing for us, too, but you'll get used to whatever you choose eventually. Good luck!
Keep them all (at least on your SS Card)!!
ReplyDeleteFrom my small understanding of the process, the SS Card is the 1st official thing you have to get made with your new name on it. For other places that you have to make the change, you can use any combination as long as it is part of the SS Card (e.g. first/last, first/middle/last, first/middle/maiden/last, first/maiden/last). I changed my maiden name to my middle name and I kind of regret getting rid of my middle name. It was an old family name and I wish, just for the official purpose, that I would have used all 4 (first/middle/maiden/last).
Just my two cents worth...hope all is well!
I feel your pain! I cried at the thought of dropping my last name Walker, but having a double first and middle name thing going on I couldn't really drop my middle name. I keep telling Buie that we are going to name a son "Walker" just to keep the tradition going but he just hates it - says it reminds him of Walker Texas Ranger! haha. Oh and I feel ya on the spelling of the last name. All I can say is just get used to spelling it. I ALWAYS say my last name, Buie and then it's like auto play - I ALWAYS spell it B-U-I-E. :) Oh the things we do for our men. You will always be a Dawson at heart and you could name a son or daughter Dawson to carry on the tradition. :)
ReplyDeleteI say keep them all and have Justin change his name too.
ReplyDeleteJustin MiddleName Dawson Haire
that way its fair
Hey Lindsey!
ReplyDeleteI completely understand! I kind of had a little identity crisis after we got married. Not only did I just gain a roommate (THAT'S A BOY) for LIFE!, I also had to move to Texas, had no job, no friends and I have a new last name.... MUCKLEROY, you think anyone knows how to spell that???????? It was like I wasn't me anymore! It's one of those things people don't really talk about! As far as the name change thing went... I had to register my car and get a new drivers licence for being in a new state and the lady at the DPS just looked at my AR license, saw "Emily Ann Parker" and typed in "Emily Ann Muckleroy". DIDN'T EVEN ask me if I wanted to have Ann or Parker as my new middle name. So then when I had to get my new SS card, I had to use my new DL for ID. So I'm "Emily Ann Muckleroy" legally but in my heart I'm Emily Parker Muckleroy and anything I have monogrammed (purses, jewelry) has "EPM" as my initials.
About my identity crisis I had, God stepped in and helped me realize that no matter what my name is, my true identity is in Jesus Christ! Just do what you are comfortable with. If you think you'll be sad leaving out your maiden name, I'd definately keep it in there! You just gradually get used to having a new last name! God bless girl and I'm so excited for you and this new adventure you are about to take!!!