Why More Men Are Considering a Name Change After Marriage

Mr & Mrs Potts-Brennan

Why did you decide to change your name as a man after getting married?

Sometimes, things aren’t black and white, or Brown or Smith, at least not for Andy Smith whose wife-to-be, Lisa Trisconi, wasn’t too keen to take his “dull” surname and at the same time lose her Italian roots. Hence, the couple merged their two family names to create a double-barrelled surname.

Trisconi-Smith, that suits them both perfectly. It also has the added advantage of stopping the former Mr Smith from receiving emails intended for seven other Mr Smiths at his workplace!

For Paul Grant, bringing his own and his husband’s surnames together as a double-barrel seemed the perfect solution as it helped to preserve their collective heritage and symbolise their union. The pair are now known as Burbidge-Grant. The same sentiment was echoed by Ross Poole who became Ross Searl-Poole upon marrying his partner, Darren Searl.

Another of our interviewees, Wayne Potts, didn’t have a strong attachment to his own name. He strongly identified with his maternal grandfather who raised him and was always open to adopting a new surname. His wife was at the end of her family line, and so the pair chose to create a double-barrelled name on getting married (Potts-Brennan) to preserve her heritage. 

How did people react to your name change as a man?

The opinion of our families and friends, and even employers is important for most people, and some men may be concerned what reaction they may receive if they choose to change their name when they get married.

For the five men that we interviewed, their experiences were, on the whole, very positive, and in the case of the Trisconi-Smith’s, many of their friend’s wives said that they wished that their husbands had done the same.

Another common response was that many people simply didn’t know that men can change their names or that it’s even an option.

William Lawrence-Archer said that some of the companies he had to deal with regarding his name change were “procedurally confused” despite adequate procedures being in place for female name changes. Thankfully companies are waking up to the fact that a man has just as much right to change his surname as a woman does. 

Mr & Mr Searl-Poole

How did you go about changing your surname?

The process of changing your name can be confusing. Different rules, sequences and procedural paths apply to different situations. Several years ago, Andy Trisconi-Smith only chose to change his name after getting married and found that his bank, mortgage company, and employer were “reluctant and ill-equipped” to help while government bodies were easier to deal with. William (née Jones) Lawrence-Archer legally assumed his wife’s surname without the need for a deed poll, using only his marriage certificate. 

For anyone (men or women) wishing to take their partners name upon marriage or create a double-barrelled surname, a marriage or civil partnership certificate will serve as legal documentation, making the name change straight forward. If you’re ready to change your name after marriage, let NameSwitch help with our award winning name change notification packages.

Name change options including meshing or creating a brand-new team name or using original surnames as middle names, will require a deed-poll. The good news is a deed poll will offer choice of sequence. For example some of the men we have helped, were able to change their names by deed poll before the ceremony so that their marriage certificate could be created and signed in the couple’s new names without the need for their partner to initiate a second deed poll to assume the name post-marriage. 

For more information the name change process including when you need a deed poll, check out our helpful guide.

NameSwitch also offers a straight-forward UK deed poll service so you can legally change your surname by deed poll without the cost of a solicitor! 

Is there a common theme that drives men to change their names after marriage?

All of our interviewees described the decision as being a joint one that felt right for them as a couple. Another theme we noticed was a desire to preserve a family name, especially when one partner was last in their family line.

Fast forward a few years, and the choice of surnames became even more meaningful as two of our interviewees have since become parents. The babies born to the Trisconi-Smith’s and Lawrence-Archer’s will now carry forward the last names that were so thoughtfully chosen by their parents, and either go on to hand the new family name down to their own children or meet a partner with whom they wish to combine or adopt their surname when they form their own unions.

A sentiment shared from all our interviewees was that their choice allowed them to embark on an exciting new chapter in their lives with a brand-new name symbolising equality and partnership.

We also noticed that reactions to men changing their names after marriage are positive and, therefore, men shouldn’t worry about supposed stigma. At the end of the day, man or woman, changing your name is a personal choice that should feel right to you. 

As for determining the best way to process a name change (e.g. deed poll or marriage certificate) and the timing involved, our interviewees had different opinions and took different approaches. 

But, one thing they all agree on is that there’s a lot of paperwork and admin involved due to the number of companies you need to inform, the information required by each, and that it’s easy to forget to notify them all. That’s where NameSwitch helps both men and women cut through it all and helps make the name change process simple, straight-forward and stress-free. 

Mr & Mrs Trisconi-Smith

Men’s Name Change After Marriage FAQ’s

Do you need a deed poll to change your name after marriage as a man?  

A marriage or civil partnerships certificate will serve as documentary evidence of your name change if you are taking your partner’s surname or opting for a double-barrelled surname. Creating a new name or adopting a surname as a middle name requires a deed poll. 

What documents does a man need for a name change after getting married? 

As with women, men can use a marriage or civil partnership certificate as evidence of a name change when taking a partner’s surname or double-barrelling surnames. A deed poll is required for name change options, such as creating a new name or taking your partner’s surname as a middle name. 

Do men have the same name change options after marriage as women? 

Absolutely! Men who want to change their name after marriage or entering into a civil partnership have the same rights as women. You can double-barrel your surname with your wife’s surname, take on her last name, or create a whole new team name.