To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?

Question

My sons father and I are not together, nor do we live anywhere close to each other. We are still civil and we make decisions together despite that. But I can't decide if I should give my son both of our last names or just his dad's. Help?

Answer

Your last name. If you never end up together how will you feel having a child with a different last name? Creates legal issues when traveling sometimes too.

Answer

I say if you are not together baby should have your name or both, but not just his.

Answer

My opinion: He or she is Your baby! Unless things change (marriage or baby father moves to be involved with day to day care)  I would have the baby's last name in your name. May sound a bit harsh to others but raising a child is not easy, bearing your name is a badge of honor of the countless hours of tears, and happiness to come! Hope this helps.

Answer

You need to do what feels right for your situation. My husband and I are married with different last names, and we've decided that gender will decide the last name of the baby, and the other last name will be a middle name. If it's a boy, his name will be:
Jack MyLastName HisLastName

If it's a girl, her name will be 
Madeline HisLastName MyLastName

There is no perfect solution but we didn't like hyphens, so even though our kids will have different last names than each other, this works for us and our family.

Answer

Give the baby your last name. Especially as you will have custody it will make your life easier.

Answer

I'm in the same exact situation! And people tend to tell me to use my last name, but for some reason I still am leaning towards using his. I'm due with a boy the end of the month and have planned on using his, but in the back of my mind I guess I'm a little unsure.

Answer

My parents are seperated and my mother gave me her last name my my fathers and it's been very easy for
My mother in regards to insurance and other bills to have our name the same. It's never bothered me that I don't have my fathers last name.

Answer

I guess for me it depends on the name. Is yours extremely difficult to spell? Does his sound nicer with your sons name? If there is no specific reason for you to use his name over yours definitely do yours. I am from a broken home and it sucked having to explain to everyone my name and why it was different to my mums and then why my sister and brothers had different last names (not saying it is the same situation just that sometime kids can get annoying when it comes to curiosity). It also sucks if they have the fathers name and the mum is trying to get custody or government benefits or basically any type of paperwork that requires identity checks etc. I also have a hyphenated first name and that also sucks so I'm not for hyphens. This are my reasons so I would vote no hyphen and your name unless you have special reason not to use it. Ultimately however you have to go with what works best for you and your child. Good luck.

Answer

I'd do either his or yours. Whichever you want. But not both. My bf and I are giving our baby girl his last name. We do plan on getting married, living together, etc. So I feel it's right his daughter has his last name. His ex wife put their sons last name hyphenated. I don't think it sounds good that way.

Answer

My name is hyphenated and I absolutely hate it.

To hyphenate or not to hyphenate?

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