I did something similar - in fact, we have a family tradition of dropping all last names altogether, and using our middle names when we get divorced (which we inevitably do).
Family reunions are fun - I have 2 aunts, a mother and myself who all legally changed to our middle names, so it’s a bit hard to keep track. On the other hand, I think we all felt that we were too old to go back to our father’s names, and that we didn’t relate to the husband’s name either - it was a way to assert our independence.
I have been married and divorced twice and both times I kept my ex husbands last name. My kids are from my first marriage and I used to get the occasional Mrs. {insert first ex husbands last name here} from the school or doctor. Never bothered me though. I would either correct them or just let it go. I would change back to my maiden name but it is to much of a hassle with SS card, Drivers license, work information etc.
My mother kept hers until she retired, at which point she took back her maiden name. Presumably, when retiring, you have to change so much info that changing the name is just one more item.
According to traditional ettiquitte rules, Miss Jane Smith marries and Mr. Robert Jones, she styles herself Mrs. Robert Smith. When she divorces the nogood cheatin’ SOB, she is entitled to style herself Mrs. Smith Jones. This is a bit silly, and few people pay attention to it any more.
I took my maiden name back even though I have two kids. I didn’t want to be associated with him any more, and it’s not really all that confusing. The kids know who their mother is, even if the school can’t get it right. I’m especially glad that I did that now that he’s remarried and his current wife took his name. I would have liked to switch the kids to my name too, but at least they’ll have the choice when they’re older.
Oh, and I usually go by Ms. and don’t find that awkward at all either.
I don’t have a cite, but I believe most US divorced women reclaim their maiden names after the split. My mom kept her married name, because after 21 years as Mrs. Nott’sdad, nobody knew her by her maiden name.
By contrast, my former next-door neighbor kept her married name, even though the marriage only lasted 2 months.
Another woman I know reverted to her first husband’s name after divorcing the second. She was the sherriff’s sister, and she didn’t want that name; she and her brother didn’t get along.
My wife uses her ex’s name, sometimes hyphenated with her maiden name, mainly because her daughter lived with us for about seven years, and also because her diplomas had that name on them.
I have my ex’s last name still. When I get married I plan to keep it and hyphenate it with my new husbands last name.
I have a son with my ex and it’s important to me that my son and I share a name, even when I re-marry.
Fiance is aware & cool with it. The whole hyphenated version will only be on paper. People will be more than welcome to just refer to me as Mrs. NewHusbandsName.