# Same-sex marriage, who takes the name?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-who-takes-the-name/503057>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 14, 2009, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-who-takes-the-name/503057 "2009-07-14T23:15:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/same-sex-marriage-who-takes-the-name/503057/21 "2009-07-16T01:51:41Z")

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> [@gotpasswords](#):
>
> In California, there’s no automatic name change for any marriages, so the two people have to decide for themselves.

Same in the UK. In straight marriages, the woman does often change her name, but it’s not automatic. Actually, I’m surprised at how many young women I know who’ve changed their name on marriage.

With lesbian couples I know who have civil partnerships, some have made themselves a double-barreled name, some have kept their original names, and some have taken on one partners’ name for both. Two couples I know made up a completely new name. I only know a couple of gay male couples who have CPs, and they’ve kept their own names.

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