Two last names or a hyphen?

I think the hyphen is just one last name, as opposed to having 2. I have no idea how that works. It might be a lot simpler to have 2 middle names (adding one of your last names as a second middle without "forfeiting" your middle name) than to figure out how to use 2 last names. And a 20 letter 7 syllable hyphenated name sounds like a nightmare.

My name has been hyphenated since birth. Personally, I think that makes it easier to deal with than two names without the hyphen. The hyphen makes it clear that you are actively using both, while people with two stand-alone names may only use one or the other.

I'm not sure legally how it would work to have 2 last names. I'm doing as @A.Magill suggested and having 2 middle names, with my maiden name being my 2nd middle name.

Without a hyphen, one of the names will get lost. Usually it whichever comes first. For example Jane Smith Doe will often be Jane Doe

Depends on your traditions also. I know it used to be a "thing" in the south that women would traditionally use their maiden name when they got married (Peggy Jo Smith marries someone with a last name of Jones, and changes her name to Peggy Smith Jones).

Personally, do what you want. I think if you have a hyphenated last name, it's obvious that the names are inseparable. But then again, a 20 letter, 7 syllable last name seems a bit of a mouthful. Think of your future first-grader learning to write their name! Yikes!

Thanks for the helpful info! I think I'll go with a hyphen to make it clearer. It could be quite the headache for me to change my name professionally (as what I do relies most on networking and I don't want to confuse people or have emails go answered with them thinking that it's not me with a new pst name). 20 letter, 7 syllable seem like the way to go! Any kids we're blessed with will have only his name (not mine) so they don't have to worry about it!

I currently have a hyphenated last name (my maiden name and ex husbands last name), it's a pain in the ass! One name gets dropped half the time, my first name gets shortened to Rene due to space, you have to repeat yourself a LOT, and it takes longer for people to locate anything organized by last name. Sometimes things get labeled under my maiden name, sometimes under my married name, and sometimes both names together without the hyphen so it all looks like one last name. It's a headache! When fh and I get married I'm taking his last name and dropping both of mine.

You may need to check your state laws - some states do not allow hyphenating.

Oh really? That's interesting - will definitely check it out!

Not sure if this option interests cause I don't think it's super common, but FH and I plan to keep our last names, but use a kind of blended last name for our children. Both our last names are three syllables, so we worked on finding something that represented both of us without taking seven years to write/sign (my name: McMorrow his name: Zanaty, still working on the blend but currently we are at McZan)

Personally I like there being a family name, so say if someone who knows my kids calls me Mrs. McZan I do feel represented, but I'm not comfortable with just using one of our names straight up and erasing the other. We are too long to hyphen so this is our solution.

Literally just about to post this same question. I just decided to keep my name along with FH and I feel so relieved with my decision. I think I'm going to do two last names without the hyphen. But I might hyphen future children's last name when the time comes.

I think a hyphenated name that long makes life harder. It never fits on anything and it's over complicating. For reference my last name is 8 letters and my FHs is 12 letters. I'm taking his so I don't have to give 3 names at the doctor's office ( my daughter has her dads last name).

My daughter's last name is hyphenated (Brooks-Ortiz) the only issue we come across is it getting switch - like in school, it would read Ortiz-Brooks - still not sure how that happened - but it never gets lost, no one thinks her middle name is Brooks but I think its because of the hypen

I've always had my last names hyphenated. The biggest inconvience is how long it can get especially when jobs assign you a work email. But when I can I drop one last name.

I don't believe any state would recognize 2 last names unless the names were hyphenated. If you mean the situation of the bride (usually) adding her maiden to make a second middle name and then take her husband's last name as her own, that's more commonly done according to social security. That's what I did, so it looks like 2 last names but in reality my maiden name is my second middle name, I had SSA list it that way on my new card.

My reasoning for not going the hyphenated route is it's just not my preference.

Hyphen = 1 long last name

Non-Hyphen = ... never heard of 2 last names. Usually one gets added to your middle name

I've had two last names since birth. Name, middle, moms last name, and dads. When I get married I plan on dropping my moms and adding my FHs.

On a local note - Tara, if you are getting a New York State License, counties outside the 5 boroughs allow you more options than the City does. It is a statewide license so you can get it anywhere and be married anywhere in the state. One of my recent couples only wanted to keep one of the groom's last names. The City wouldn't let them and Westchester did allow it.

Great question!

I'm not named after anyone, so I'm replacing my middle name with my maiden name n taking FHs last name.