Naming Questions

[TheResistance 6]

Howdy! Got something to ask. My fiancee says in the Philippines they do middle and last names differently. In her case, her middle name is her mother's maiden name. Last name is the father's last name (surname). Her first name also has two parts. So let us call her Sue Ann Mid Last. Now, we are trying to figure out few things

One, her middle name is like most of us in America: our middle name. So Mid is always going to be middle. She says in her country when they get married, the middle is dropped and her last becomes her middle, taking the new surname of the husband. However in American, most people do not do that. So, she is thinking that her name is going to be switched like that, and becoming Sue Ann Last MyLast (Mid now dropped). Now apparently, this is a trend here as well with some marriages. So, if she wanted to become Sue Ann Last MyLast, can she at marriage?

Two, hyphening. I Googled this (ask yourself if that was this type of verb thirty years ago) and I see the ups and downs of it. It would be Sue Ann Mid Last-MyLast, right? This may not be a choice considering the misadventures of having a long, hyphenated last name (on forms, and insurance companies getting it wrong, and people not going to call you that anyway for the most part). Gosh.... I apologize if I insulted anyone with a hyphenated last name now.

Thanks for some input.

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

Yeah you are correct in everything you said. My wife does the hyphenation as well. her name is Ann Mid Last-MyLast. She can do either one that is up to her whenever y'all marry.

[cristina16 81]

Yes that is the standard for Filipino name, she should follow the standard name format (drop the middle name which is her mom's maiden name) after marriage. That will also make it easier to register your marriage to Philippine consulate and eventually request documents in the Philippines if necessary.

The implication of hyphenated names, she can opt to use this, there is no law in the Philippines that prevents it. However, most people that use hyphen on their names has reason (mostly professional) why they opted not to drop their maiden names. One of which is they are known professionally with their maiden name, thus keeping the name is like keeping the professional image and will not fall on the WHO? category again in their profession. Mostly I see lawyers or doctors doing this.

[clairegie 265]

So, she is thinking that her name is going to be switched like that, and becoming Sue Ann Last MyLast (Mid now dropped). Now apparently, this is a trend here as well with some marriages. So, if she wanted to become Sue Ann Last MyLast, can she at marriage? Yes. This is the correct Philippine format.

Two, hyphening. I Googled this (ask yourself if that was this type of verb thirty years ago) and I see the ups and downs of it. It would be Sue Ann Mid Last-MyLast, right? This may not be a choice considering the misadventures of having a long, hyphenated last name (on forms, and insurance companies getting it wrong, and people not going to call you that anyway for the most part). Gosh.... I apologize if I insulted anyone with a hyphenated last name now.

IMO, hyphenated last names are just too long and unnecessary. Go with the traditional option above. Less headaches too if/when she would need any documents from the Philippines using her married name. You never know if someone who's not used to the hyphenated format might mess up when listing her name.

Edited January 21, 2016 by iammrsregie

[Tahoma 2,292]

If she does not use the conventional Filipino standard of changing names after marriage, when she renews her passport or reacquires her Filipino citizenship (and gets a new Philippines passport) through one of the Philippines Consulates, her passport will be issued using the conventional standard. Then, she will have to apply for a document through the Philippines Consulate called "Affidavit of One and the Same," which is used to reconcile the difference between the two names.

I believe this is how it works.

An exception to this is if she keeps her maiden name after marriage.