Female celebrities who take FAMOUS spouse's name, but not Joe Blow's

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

For some reason this really irks me. I'm watching tennis right now (Nadal vs. Hewitt). Hewitt's wife is a celebrity in Australia (Bec Cartwright, now Hewitt). The fact that she goes by "Bec" is annoying enough (I shall now call myself "Mar" because "Maryam" is just too cumbersome and takes much too long to say). I see that she has taken his name now. I love how some female celebrities who are married to celebrities take the man's name, but if they're married to Horace Blubbersnatch or Nigel Fartflicker they're too good to assume those names.

Not the most important thing to be wasting brain cells on, but I find it irritating nonetheless.

[Bassic]

1. In my book, all women should keep their own names. nt

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

2. Not a bad idea, that

[LostinVA]

7. Good man!

Is that what your sweetie's doing?

[Bassic]

8. Yes she is, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

In fact, in Québec it's mandatory, BUT we're getting married in Ontario so she could technically take my name. She IS keeping her name anyway.

[LostinVA]

9. Goof for the Quebecers!

[billyskank]

12. Maybe when (if) I get married, I'll take my wife's name

and drop my own. Just to be different.

[Bassic]

15. I had a friend in high school who said he'd do that.

I lost sight of him thought, and never knew if he did.

[billyskank]

16. I think I would.

I think it is good for a husband and wife to share their name. So, if my wife did not want to take my name, I should put my money where my mouth is, and take hers instead. Seems a reasonable compromise to me.

What's in a name anyway. I have at least three different names that I regularly answer to.

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Hiya!

I think it is a bond and good for any children...to all have the same name. To be a unit.

:hi: :loveya: Either or though...If my name were nicer than MrG's I would have gone with it. ;)

[billyskank]

24. Hey!

I wouldn't mind dumping my name, to be honest. I've never been so keen on it. Especially with the unorthodox spelling. :hi:

:loveya:

Don't think the issue will arise, though.

[SOteric]

28. That's only polite, billy.

What woman would want to change her name to "Mrs. Skank?"

[bicentennial_baby]

17. But what if we don't want to?

I'm for personal choice, either way. :)

[Bassic]

18. There always choice.

For example, a woman can't change her name when she get's married in Québec, but nothing stops her from legally changing it. The new name simply replaces her maiden name then.

[Iris]

3. Why do you need to make assumptions about how and why some women change their names after marriage?

I mean, wtf? Obviously the person you speak of is annoying to you, but is it necessary to paint all female celebrities (and women in general) with the same brush?

[RetroLounge]

5. "I love how some female celebrities "

"I love how some female celebrities "

Stick to the words, you know, the ones on the screen.

Some <> All

RL

[cmkramer]

20. Susan Sarandon and Stockard Channing

Both of them still use their former husbands' names even though they've been divorced for decades. Suasn's ex is the actor Chris Sarandon; I don't know if Stockard's husband was in show business or not.

Back in the silent film era there was a popular film star named Wallace Reid who became addicted to drugs. He managed to get clean but it weakened him so much he ended up dying. His widow did some movies deploring drugs and drug addiction using the name "Mrs. Wallace Reid".

Is the idea of keeping your own name (if you're a woman) more of a generational thing or an age thing? Do women who marry later in life -when they're in their 40's let's say - after they've established themselves professionally - tend to retain their "maiden" names or is it more that younger women are doing that mainly because it doesn't occur to them that they're even supposed to change their names after marriage.

[Iris]

25. I would think the majority of younger women think they are SUPPOSED, no even REQUIRED, to change

their names after they are married. In fact, it's just a custom. It's not a legal requirement. Just like it's just a custom to give a child the father's last name.

[Coventina]

4. I feel that people should be able to call themselves what they want.

In the case of celebrities, it's part of their career track.
What will make a bigger "name" (literally) for them?

To get mad at ANY woman for not taking a man's name is just wrong, IMHO.

[grace0418]

6. I'm not famous, I just like my own name. It's a personal choice.

There's no way to know the actress' motivation unless the actress marries famous and non-famous men several times and only takes her husband's name when he's also famous. So I just have to assume the woman made the same choice I did when she kept her name, or conversely that she decided to be more traditional and take her husband's name.

And I will say, having family members in the biz, that it is soooooooooooooooo difficult (for actresses especially) to stay in the game. Unless you're on the A-list of all A-lists, it is very easy for an actress to fall through the cracks, especially as she gets older. Very, very few actresses ever get called and begged to play a certain role. The majority have to audition for every role they get. So it could present a stumbling block to getting hired if casting directors have to pause for even a second and say "Who?" Name recognition is a huuuuuuuuuuge thing.

I've heard some of the nasty things casting directors have said about the slightest wrinkle, or eye puffiness, or 2 lb weight gain, or haircut. I would imagine doing something as drastic as changing one's name would set off all kinds of hysterics.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

10. This is the great thing about Dems.

One can express one's opinion and be greeted by reasoned analysis, not death threats or complete uniformity ("USA! USA! Let's roll!"). Good on you!

[Connonym]

11. or be accused of being "what's wrong with America"

My grandmother told me that when I hyphenated my name after I got married. Hyphenated names are what's wrong with America. Who knew it was that simple? If I ever did it again I'd just keep my birth name. I feel so guilty for having played a part in the downfall of American society :sarcasm:

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

13. Wow! And I thought it was just kicking the downtrodden and starting wars!

Who would have thought?

[Connonym]

14. yes, so you can see how I can barely live with myself!

oh the shame! :eyes:

[supernova]

19. All about the Cache

If the bride percieves that her hubby's last name has more status, then she will take his. If hers is stronger, then she keeps her name.

Personally, I would keep my name. It's not that common and I've worked hard to get it back. Not changing it again.

[kwassa]

21. Many celebrities have made-up names to start with.

Many famous performers have altered their names for showbiz potential.

so, these women are adopting fake names.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

27. yep-like natalie portman

an alias created to shield her privacy as a teen

[crispini]

22. If I were marrying Horace Blubbersnatch or Nigel Fartflicker....

I'd keep my own name too! :rofl:

[hellbound-liberal]

26. When we got married, my wife and I both took the same hyphenated last name

I never thought a woman should have to give up her last name when she got married and I thought that, to have a "true" marriage, we should have the same last name. Looking back, I think I might have suggested that we both keep our own last names. Having a hyphenated last name is a pain!

[BluePatriot]

29. I changed my name

...and had no idea it would spiral me into the identity crisis I had. I mean, I don't even come up on Google anymore. And proving who you "used to be" is annoying especially if you haven't particularly changed (to the DMV / Social Sec / bank / utility / CREDIT folks)

They still have my credit file screwed up at one of the agencies. Apparently I never had my maiden name at all. Oh, and no birth year. Lazy bastards.

[northzax]

30. part of the actor issue

is that it is a pain to change your name on you SAG card. legally, you can be anything you want, for the purposes of celebrity, what matters is the name you use professionally. you can't have two people with the same name on their SAG card.

my step-mother, for instance, while not an actor, uses her birth name professionally, that way the degrees on the wall match the licenses, and her patients didn't have to change, and can refer her to others. socially and financially, she uses my father's last name (it's on her checks, etc) just easier.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

31. When I got my law license they put my maiden name on it along with my married name

I actually liked that and kept it that way rather than change. I don't usually go by all three names, but I like it for professional purposes.