For many women (and a growing number of men), changing their last name is a big decision. Here are some interesting articles (and one video) that address the issue.

The State of the Maiden Name
By Katie Roiphe (Slate.com)
A good overview of the pros and cons of name change
Excerpt: Having children presents a conundrum: If you change your name to your husband's, how are you connected to your ancestors in the shtetl, or the potato famine, or the decks of the Mayflower? If you don't change your name, how are you connected to the future, to your children and grandchildren, who will use your name as a secret password for bank accounts until eventually it is forgotten?

Married or Maiden Name? The Last Name Debate for the Modern Woman
By Cori Russell (American Chronicle)
A comprehensive article on all the name-change options
Excerpt: The name change debate can be just as ruthless, just as grievous, and that seemingly perfect solution just as elusive for the modern woman. While most women say “I do” to taking their husband’s last name, a great many of them struggle with the concept and the decision. A quick glance at some online forums dedicated to the topic affirmed that this is still a hot button issue – with judgment, perceived or actual, running rampant on both sides of the proverbial fence.

His and Hers Surnames: The Debate Continues
By Camilla Chafer (BridalWave.tv)
A U.K.-based website offering some statistics on name change in Britain
Excerpt: Apparently a third of women plan to keep their own name with 7% refusing to take their husband's name. 45% say they don't want to lose their family name whilst 41% of women just prefer their own. However, 51% of men said they would be extremely offended if their new wife didn't want their name with a third saying they would "demand" a name change, with 70% insisting on future offspring bearing the male surname.

Since You Asked: Should I Take My Husband's Name?
By Cary Tennis (Salon.com)
An advice columnist addresses a woman's name-change dilemma
Excerpt: To take your husband's name is also among your freedoms. You are absolutely free to make your own choice, and you cannot really make a bad choice because, either way, the important thing is that it is a free, conscious choice.

Debate
(Time)
An article from 1925 that records a debate on the subject of name change
Excerpt: At 133 East 61st St., Manhattan, home of the New York Junior League, there was a debate. The judges were Ethel Barrymore, Alice Duer Miller and Frank Crowninshield, editor of Vanity Fair. The question was: Should a Woman Keep her Maiden Name after Marriage?

To Be Safe, Call the Bride by Her First Name
By Anna Jane Grossman (The New York Times)
An article on the difficulty of coming up with a new last name
Excerpt: Brides, and bridegrooms as well, are learning that with choice comes complication. They are turning what was once an intimate conversation into an interactive dialogue with relatives, friends and even professional consultants.

Did You Take Your Husband's Last Name?
(momversation .com)
Mommy bloggers discuss why they did or didn't change their name

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