# We've come full circle: now it's awkward and borderline impolite to ask someone their LAST name

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-come-full-circle-now-its-awkward-and-borderline-impolite-to-ask-someone-their-last-name/1034001>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 20, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-come-full-circle-now-its-awkward-and-borderline-impolite-to-ask-someone-their-last-name/1034001 "2026-10-20T15:43:04Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-come-full-circle-now-its-awkward-and-borderline-impolite-to-ask-someone-their-last-name/1034001/61 "2026-10-21T19:58:37Z")

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> [@Dr.Drake](#):
>
> people trying to manipulate me

I appreciate slimy salesfolk being obvious. I’m not a fan of people using my name at all, first or last. Just talk to me.

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2026, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-come-full-circle-now-its-awkward-and-borderline-impolite-to-ask-someone-their-last-name/1034001/62 "2026-10-21T22:08:59Z")

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A while back I decided to contribute to training for guide dogs. They set it up like World Vision used to (maybe still does) and send you updates of “your” dog’s progress. So I decided to pay it each month in my granddaughter’s name so that she would receive the messages and videos as I thought that she would enjoy them. When I went to do it, I realized that I had no idea what my granddaughters last name is - her mother’s family name or my son’s. So I had to ask.

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**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2026, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weve-come-full-circle-now-its-awkward-and-borderline-impolite-to-ask-someone-their-last-name/1034001/63 "2026-10-22T09:14:35Z")

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Didn‘t you ever send postal mail to your granddaughter?

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