“Should You Change Your Name After Marriage?’
Who belongs to who? This is the question that my husband and I asked after receiving our class attendance for our Spring, Homebuilder’s Course titled, Building Your Marriage to Last. For the first time, we had more married couples who registered with different last names. This created a problem because we had to make phone calls to find out who was married to who.
As I talk to different women about this subject, I think it is interesting that some of us didn’t even give it a thought. It was something that we looked forward to, and we immediately changed our name after marriage. While there are other women who have reservations about changing their last name after marriage. When I have asked the reason why, I have heard a couple of responses like; “I have been married before and it didn’t work so I am not sure if I want to change my last name, it’s too much paper work to have to change, and I am not sure if I really want to take on my husband’s name.”
The question for this week is “Should You Change Your Name After Marriage?” I would like to answer this question by saying YES, especially for Christians. A new name lets everyone know that a change has taken place. You are no longer a single but you are married. You belong to someone. Different names say division. Taking on a new name says unity. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” When the two become one, there should be one name. One last name helps with identification. It clearly identifies who belongs to who. Two different last names can easily create confusion. Not only does it help to identify, it says commitment. Romans 7:2 says, “For the woman who has a husband is bound by the law to her husband as long as he lives.” Taking on your husband’s name says you are committed and connected to your husband. In addition, taking on a man’s last name is a matter of respect. Many of the husbands have shared that the fact that their wives have not changed their names makes them feel dis-respected. It is so important for the wives to respect their husbands in this way. Ephesians 5:33 says, “let the wife see that she respects her husband.”
Entering God’s wonderful institution of marriage is truly a privilege. It’s a blessing to have a husband/wife. There are so many women who would love to be married and take on a new name. God is a God of order, and everything about marriage should be done decently and in order. (I Corin. 14:40) Being one in marriage is a part of God’s order. For all of the singles, please think about this before you say I do. If you are not willing to take on the brother’s name, do you really want to become one?
Until next week . . .
Carolyn
Marriage from A to Z 