Are you kidding me? Is it 1954? It's fine if that's what people want to do, but in what possible scenario could it be important? My daughter has her father's (my husband's) last name. My last name is different. Hasn't produced a crisis yet . . .

Why not give your child both parents’ last name? One's child should be entitled, through the last names among other things, to both parents’ heritage and culture. And as previous post mentioned, we've never had an issue with our child having both of our last names.

I don't think it's necessarily "important" but I like the idea of me, my husband, and my children sharing the same last name.

i agree with runningesq...it's not crucial but for me, i like the idea of it

while sometimes one parent has a different name, i think it's important that at least one parent has the same name as their child

ex: a girl i know has the last name Barrett. her husband has the last name Olsen-Smith. they don't want to give the child Olsen-Smith because the Olsen comes from his father's side of the family who he doesn't assiciate with. so the baby is now named Olivia Barrett-Smith. so all 3 of them have different names. that's weird to me.

I also like the idea of sharing a last name, but it's not the end of the world if we don't. We're not married yet, so our daughter has both of our last names. If we end up getting married, I think we'll just drop my last name and all share his. But like another poster said, it hasn't produced any crises yet.

I'm the first poster. For what it's worth, my daughter has my last name as her middle name (as will the child we are now expecting). That's a nod to the heritage and culture of both sides of her family.

I think it's a very personal decision for a family. It doesn't really matter either way, everyone with same names, some different names, or everyone with a different name. I was very happy to change my name when I got married because I hated my last name, but I didn't get one much better. I think it's more important for the names to work well and not end up sounding stupid or being a really really long name for a child to try to manage and spell and say as they're starting their school careers.

I gave my child his father's last name. We are not married but intend too and then we will all have the same last name. Crisis? No, but confusing for some people when I correct them and then I get the "poor baby mama" look. Which to me is funny because I am the bread winner in this family.

It's not necessary to have the same name as your child, but for some people it's just a nice sentiment. A name is a name, it doesn't make you any less of a parent if you don't choose to have the same last name as your husband or child. Since when I marry, I will take my husband's name...this whole idea of not having my kid have the same last name just doesn't apply.

I agree with number 1. My son has his father's,my husband's, last name only because it sounds better with his first name. I refuse to change my name because I am not a piece of cattle, my husband didn't f*cking buy me when we married. If you LIKE your husband's name and want to change your own,go right ahead. But the idea of my husband having sex with someone that has the same name as his mom, sister and grandmother is just gross to me. I keep joking that our new baby will have my last name, but again, my husband's is a better fit. Just not for me.

@ runningesq - I agree.

A child having the same last name as both parents isn't an issue for me. It's kids with hyphenated last names that can be annoying. I mean what happens if you name your child with both parents' last names, and then she wants to add her husband's last name to that as well? Just one name please

My child has a hyphenated last name as do I and my name has NEVER been a problem in any way. I honor both of my parents with my last name as does my child's name honor both of her parents. I think whatever works for anyone is fine.

i didn't take my husband's name when we married. we don't have kids yet but we'll probably give them both. when people question why i didn't change my name, i usually try to be polite, but it's hard i mean really... would any man take a woman's name when they married? it's just as ridiculous.