Working women: taking 2 last names?

From some other posts on here, I think women have a harder time convincing their work to refer to them as their married name. Think about it. They've known you by your maiden name for as long as they've known you, they probably don't know your FH, and unless you tell them they won't even know your married name. I think if you try to put both names into the mix without the hyphen, they're more likely to refer to you than one or the other rather than both.

Unless you're in a profession where you need to publish papers under your legal name, I'd go the easier route of two middle names legally. You can encourage your work to call you Val Smith Jones, but don't be surprised if people pick one or the other.

My biz cards are going to have first maiden last if this helps. My signatures have first maiden initial last. Everything else is first last outside of work.

Edit- Melanie Maidenname Lastname and Melanie M. Lastname

I've done exactly that. I wanted my maiden name & my married name without the hyphen so that's actually now my legal name. Corporate had to accommodate my request. I didn't have a problem with it though.

I think it's pretty common for women to move their maiden name to the middle (So Val Elizabeth Smith becomes Val Smith Jones). I'd guess that, without a hyphen, most people would assume this is what you've done, and would just call you Val Jones. If you want people to recognize your last name as "Smith Jones," I think you would need to add a hyphen.

You should also check the laws in your state. In NY, the law says "the surname of the other spouse; or any former surname of either spouse; or a name combining into a single surname all or a segment of the premarriage surname or any former surname of each spouse; or a combination name separated by a hyphen, provided that each part of such combination surname is the premarriage surname, or any former surname, of each of the spouses." I'm not a lawyer, but to me this means you'd have to either have a hyphen, or mash the names together.

You don't need a hyphen and you CAN have two last names. This is my second marriage and I have been using my previous names as such. I have had no problems other than someone turning the names around. Don't stress over it. It's YOUR name and others will respect it.

I know quite a few women who go by two last names professionally. You make the transition the same way you would a hyphenated name or straight name change, repetition.

@Cheryl - Each state has their own laws about what you can change your name to. You can't make blanket statements like that. Some states (like NY) do not allow you to have two last names.

I am having two last names without a hyphen for professional reasons.

I know a lot of women who use two last names without a hyphen. I think they have mixed success, but I know I personally always think of them and refer to them with all of their names. When I finally get around to changing my name this is what I will do at work, but I will probably only use my married name socially. I think it is disrespectful to shorten someone's name without his or her consent, so I would never do it (aside from using a nickname for a sibling or close friend).

I made my maiden name into my middle name (dropped my original middle name) and at work have been First Maiden Married. I changed it to that on all of my accounts, my email, etc. People just assumed that I hyphenated, and have been using both, which is fine with me. It doesn't matter at work whether it's legally middle and last or two last- my company certainly doesn't care as long as it's right on all legal documents. I do go by just my married outside of work though.

In CA you have to have the hyphen. Read the rules for marriage name changes for your state.

I considered this as an option since I have published paper under my maiden name. Ultimately I decided on adding my maiden name as a second middle name (hyphenated) with my current middle name. I didn't want to give up my middle name and my initial has been used in publications. I did this because the idea of dealing with hyphens and going by different names in different circles seemed difficult. I will just deal with the name change in professional circles. It is more important to me to share the last name of my FH and any children we will have than trying to hold on to a maiden name at work.

I hope this is helpful to you.

I thought about doing a double barrel last name, which is what you want to do. However, I spoke with other women who had done it and they have a horrible time with it. People often omit the first last name, so they just get called by their husband's last name. When having corporate buy plane tickets, etc, there are mess ups.

Just as a warning, this will be a huge headache. I changed my name to make my maiden name a second middle name. Work has been fine, but I have had SO MUCH TROUBLE with our utilities and other things getting my name right! The most common issue is hyphenating my maiden and last name. Just be prepared that people will get it wrong a lot, and you will need to correct them.