Last name dilemma

[schwasted589]

How much of a pain in the butt is hyphenating a last name? I have a fairly unique 3 syllable name and fiance has a SUPER common 2 syllable name. So I'd be Firstname Mylastname - Hislastname legally

I haven't graduated yet (but I am taking boards in a few weeks and heard that its annoying when you have different names for different licensing exams etc) so if I change my last name, the "new" one would be on my medical degree, etc.

I don't know what to do!? I was 100% set on hyphenating until everyone started telling me how annoying it was and how difficult it is for patients and how they hate hyphenated names.

I don't know if it would be possible to legally hyphenate and still go by Dr. Maiden Name (I want his last name somehow but I don't want to be yet another Dr. Smith/Jones/Khan/Nguyen which is what would happen if I took his name entirely)

Have to decide in a week when I get my marriage license! :S

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[FrkyBgStok]

why not just both of you change your last name to Montague? Problem solved.

You're welcome. /endthread

 

[hmockingbird]

Most of the doctors I know who have hyphenated names just go by the first name in the hyphenated name (for some that is their maiden name and for others it's their married name). I would guess because it's just easier? On official things it will say their full legal name (like on their EMR, prescriptions, etc.) but that's how they introduce themselves and how most people call them at work, including patients.

 

[schwasted589]

Most of the doctors I know who have hyphenated names just go by the first name in the hyphenated name (for some that is their maiden name and for others it's their married name). I would guess because it's just easier? On official things it will say their full legal name (like on their EMR, prescriptions, etc.) but that's how they introduce themselves and how most people call them at work, including patients.

This is basically what I want to do. Legally have my hyphenated name (I don't know why having his name incorporated with mine is so important to me, because I feel like most people would rather not, but it is) and then socially use just mrs. hislastname. But professionally either have my patients call me dr. mylastname or dr.mylastname-hislastname or Dr A.B. (our initials)

I don't know if it's a huge hassle to do that.

 

[cabinbuilder]

I have a hyphenated last name. It is official on all my state licenses, DEA, drivers license, etc.

I kept the first last name because I have loans, property, and children with that last name.

The second last name is my 2nd (current husband). Professionally I go by Dr. 2nd husband.

It's generally not a huge hassle as I just let my job (and IT) know that I want it "easy" at work and to only use my professional last name at work.

 

[hallowmann]

Know plenty of docs with hyphenated last names, they have no issues. It becomes your legal name, you update the necessary authorities, boards, etc. That's it.

Personally, I recommended my wife not take my last name or hyphenate because of her hefty presence in research prior to marrying me and the shear length of the combination, but if she felt strongly one way or the other she'd have done what she wanted. Do what would make you happy, it makes no difference, except that its your name, and you'll be the one living with it.

 

[schwasted589]

Know plenty of docs with hyphenated last names, they have no issues. It becomes your legal name, you update the necessary authorities, boards, etc. That's it.

Personally, I recommended my wife not take my last name or hyphenate because of her hefty presence in research prior to marrying me and the shear length of the combination, but if she felt strongly one way or the other she'd have done what she wanted. Do what would make you happy, it makes no difference, except that its your name, and you'll be the one living with it.

yeah thankfully I don't have much of a professional online presence (at least not yet) and haven't graduated or anything so it'd be a more painless switch. I just hear about all these people that are SO against hyphenated names and I start getting confused. :S

 

[Mr Kenobi]

Whoa whoa whoa there....I thought we had a unified decision from the MDO degree thread that until the AOA officially changed our degree we were all going to change our middle names to our last names, and our last names to M.

@NurWollen

 

[mk04447]

I think I'm going to be known for the same comment on numerous posts. Millennials? Really?

 

[AMEHigh]

How much of a pain in the butt is hyphenating a last name? I have a fairly unique 3 syllable name and fiance has a SUPER common 2 syllable name. So I'd be Firstname Mylastname - Hislastname legally

I haven't graduated yet (but I am taking boards in a few weeks and heard that its annoying when you have different names for different licensing exams etc) so if I change my last name, the "new" one would be on my medical degree, etc.

I don't know what to do!? I was 100% set on hyphenating until everyone started telling me how annoying it was and how difficult it is for patients and how they hate hyphenated names.

I don't know if it would be possible to legally hyphenate and still go by Dr. Maiden Name (I want his last name somehow but I don't want to be yet another Dr. Smith/Jones/Khan/Nguyen which is what would happen if I took his name entirely)

Have to decide in a week when I get my marriage license! :S

Just an FYI the name that you register for boards with doesn't have to be the one you graduate with that is on your degree and licensure.

Also, you don't have to make a decision the moment you get your marriage license in regards to what you want to change your name to. I know plenty of people that have waited years to legally change their name.

I recently changed my name after a divorce and just had to submit the legal documentation to my school for that name to be on my degree and for me to eventually be licensed in that name even though my board exams were registered under another name.

If you want to hyphenate, go for it.

 

[hallowmann]

I think I'm going to be known for the same comment on numerous posts. Millennials? Really?

No offense, but this decision was/is a concern for many professionals that I personally know belonging to at least 2 older generations. Not that I'm defending millennials (I'm barely one of them), but we have a tendency to blame everything on that despite the fact that for the most part they complain about things that were complaints for almost every generation before them going back to the boomers. We did the same thing to the Gen X-ers.

 

[mk04447]

No offense, but this decision was/is a concern for many professionals that I personally know belonging to at least 2 older generations. Not that I'm defending millennials (I'm barely one of them), but we have a tendency to blame everything on that despite the fact that for the most part they complain about things that were complaints for almost every generation before them going back to the boomers. We did the same thing to the Gen X-ers.

Every generation has its wusses, but the millennials are defined by them. To suggest this is a problem makes me laugh. Change your name every day if you want, twice on Sunday for all I care.

 

[NurWollen]

Whoa whoa whoa there....I thought we had a unified decision from the MDO degree thread that until the AOA officially changed our degree we were all going to change our middle names to our last names, and our last names to M.

@NurWollen

Actually, I've been putting a lot of thought into it and I've decided that we should all change our last name to Pepper.

 

[hallowmann]

Every generation has its wusses, but the millennials are defined by them. To suggest this is a problem makes me laugh. Change your name every day if you want, twice on Sunday for all I care.

Or there actually are pros and cons associated with any change. As I alluded to above, changing your name after having a big research presence is sometimes an issue, because you depend on that presence for future opportunities. But whatever, feel free to be the guy of your generation that complains about people complaining...

 

[mk04447]

Or there actually are pros and cons associated with any change. As I alluded to above, changing your name after having a big research presence is sometimes an issue, because you depend on that presence for future opportunities. But whatever, feel free to be the guy of your generation that complains about people complaining...

Complaining? On the contrary, I'm thrilled each time your generation puts their foot in their mouth; hopefully, you learn from it. America needs a big dose of insensitivity training to prevent us from becoming the laughing stock of the world. In the meantime, it entertains me. <places a dollar in the tip jar>

 

[Mr Kenobi]

Actually, I've been putting a lot of thought into it and I've decided that we should all change our last name to Pepper.

If you do, DO NOT put this pin on your left white coat lapel.

 

[JGimpel]

How much of a pain in the butt is hyphenating a last name? I have a fairly unique 3 syllable name and fiance has a SUPER common 2 syllable name. So I'd be Firstname Mylastname - Hislastname legally

I haven't graduated yet (but I am taking boards in a few weeks and heard that its annoying when you have different names for different licensing exams etc) so if I change my last name, the "new" one would be on my medical degree, etc.

I don't know what to do!? I was 100% set on hyphenating until everyone started telling me how annoying it was and how difficult it is for patients and how they hate hyphenated names.

I don't know if it would be possible to legally hyphenate and still go by Dr. Maiden Name (I want his last name somehow but I don't want to be yet another Dr. Smith/Jones/Khan/Nguyen which is what would happen if I took his name entirely)

Have to decide in a week when I get my marriage license! :S

What a great way to start a marriage: hey honey, I want to get married, but want to let everyone else know that I wasn't 100% in with it by hyphenating my name. If you are published and had your license in your name before you got married, you could put the maiden name in your CV or application when you list them, but I have never seen ANY doctor with a hyphenated name and will honestly think less of them for not recognizing the partner getting them through this process. Having your hyphenated last name embroidered all the way around your left arm pit on your white coat will look ridiculous too. I wouldn't hire a person with a hyphenated name as they are bound to be cold and rebellious in other areas as well. That's my choice to do that and I'm perfectly within my rights to do so.

Watch for quick knee-jerk responses from the militant feminists....

 

[hallowmann]

What a great way to start a marriage: hey honey, I want to get married, but want to let everyone else know that I wasn't 100% in with it by hyphenating my name. If you are published and had your license in your name before you got married, you could put the maiden name in your CV or application when you list them, but I have never seen ANY doctor with a hyphenated name and will honestly think less of them for not recognizing the partner getting them through this process. Having your hyphenated last name embroidered all the way around your left arm pit on your white coat will look ridiculous too. I wouldn't hire a person with a hyphenated name as they are bound to be cold and rebellious in other areas as well. That's my choice to do that and I'm perfectly within my rights to do so.

Watch for quick knee-jerk responses from the militant feminists....

Knee-jerk respone for you: if the spouse is so insecure about the relationship to need their name taped on their SO, then something tells me its not the hyphenation that'll damage the relationship. Like I said, I know plenty of hyphenated docs. Also, looks like @cabinbuilder has a hyphenated name so there's another doc.

 

[AMEHigh]

What a great way to start a marriage: hey honey, I want to get married, but want to let everyone else know that I wasn't 100% in with it by hyphenating my name. If you are published and had your license in your name before you got married, you could put the maiden name in your CV or application when you list them, but I have never seen ANY doctor with a hyphenated name and will honestly think less of them for not recognizing the partner getting them through this process. Having your hyphenated last name embroidered all the way around your left arm pit on your white coat will look ridiculous too. I wouldn't hire a person with a hyphenated name as they are bound to be cold and rebellious in other areas as well. That's my choice to do that and I'm perfectly within my rights to do so.

Watch for quick knee-jerk responses from the militant feminists....

Is this a joke?

 

[Promethean]

Knee-jerk respone for you: if the spouse is so insecure about the relationship to need their name taped on their SO, then something tells me its not the hyphenation that'll damage the relationship. Like I said, I know plenty of hyphenated docs. Also, looks like @cabinbuilder has a hyphenated name so there's another doc.

I recently worked with a neurosurgeon and an anesthesiologist who had hyphenated last names. In both cases, they had good reasons for wanting to retain their last name as well as to take on that of a spouse. We often affectionately referred to the neurosurgeon by her two last initials, like Dr. X-Y, or just X-Y. It really isn't that big of a deal.

I also know quite a few people whose hyphenated names didn't arise from their own marriages, but from those of their parents or grandparents. Hyphenation isn't new to this generation or this culture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-barrelled_name

OP. You will always find people to tell you how you ought to live your life and to be annoyed by any choice you make. You will not ever please everyone, so you may as well focus on suiting yourself and the people who matter to you. If you and your husband are happy with a hyphenated name, certainly use one. Make your name fit your needs and tastes. No one else but you has to wear it.

 

[Promethean]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leone_Sextus_Tollemache

Don't do this to yourself, or your kids, and everything will be fine.

Reading this thread has made me feel better about my scheme to drop my 3 syllable last name (acquired through marriage) in favor of my 3 letter middle name as my new surname. I figured I'd start the process during medical school, so that everything going forward would have the same name on it.

 

[touchpause13]

What a great way to start a marriage: hey honey, I want to get married, but want to let everyone else know that I wasn't 100% in with it by hyphenating my name. If you are published and had your license in your name before you got married, you could put the maiden name in your CV or application when you list them, but I have never seen ANY doctor with a hyphenated name and will honestly think less of them for not recognizing the partner getting them through this process. Having your hyphenated last name embroidered all the way around your left arm pit on your white coat will look ridiculous too. I wouldn't hire a person with a hyphenated name as they are bound to be cold and rebellious in other areas as well. That's my choice to do that and I'm perfectly within my rights to do so.

Watch for quick knee-jerk responses from the militant feminists....

Or you know, they love and respect each other and don't care about that kinda thing... but you do you man.

FWIW - I took the last name because... it's a hilarious name to put "doctor" in front of. Has nothing to do with being 100% in it.

 

[JGimpel]

Or you know, they love and respect each other and don't care about that kinda thing... but you do you man.

FWIW - I took the last name because... it's a hilarious name to put "doctor" in front of. Has nothing to do with being 100% in it.

Them loving each other is a possibility, but there's a strong chance that a hiring physician will have an opinion about this if he doesn't know that person. I formed my opinion from working with people with hyphenated names in many settings and my experience has been that most of them are very b@!chy and I wouldn't want to work with them again.

 

[touchpause13]

Them loving each other is a possibility, but there's a strong chance that a hiring physician will have an opinion about this if he doesn't know that person. I formed my opinion from working with people with hyphenated names in many settings and my experience has been that most of them are very b@!chy and I wouldn't want to work with them again.

I mean... everyone has stereotypes
I don't think I'd want to work with someone who put that much thought into someone's last name (it's not like you even know why they are hyphenated, that could be their birth name) but that's just me.

Idk, I have a lot of friends and family who are hyphenated and it's either because 1) that's their given name 2) they were already professionally established under 1 name or 3) gay

 

[touchpause13]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leone_Sextus_Tollemache

Don't do this to yourself, or your kids, and everything will be fine.

Reading this thread has made me feel better about my scheme to drop my 3 syllable last name (acquired through marriage) in favor of my 3 letter middle name as my new surname. I figured I'd start the process during medical school, so that everything going forward would have the same name on it.

Damn and I thought I had it bad for having 2 middle names. My driver's license is hilarious, it my name barely fits.