(As an aside, I seem to enjoy quoting Austin Powers in my post titles.)

Taking my FI’s last name is something I have been contemplating for a long time. I know many women get all poetic about the decision. They have strong convictions about either keeping their last name or changing it to their new spouse’s last name. It’s a big deal. I totally get it.

However, today I don’t want to have a deep conversation about it. So I think I will express a shallow concern of mine (please don’t laugh). Here goes. If I decide to change to L’s last name and completely drop my last name, my full name will be redundant. Yep. My name will be Carly Lee. Say it out loud. Let it roll off your tongue. Carly Lee. Are we on the same page now?

I share my little secret all in good fun. I know I’m splitting hairs and that I would eventually get used to it. But isn’t it just a tad bit funny? It puts an interesting twist on the name change conundrum that can both baffle and frustrate soon-to-be married women. Most of my friends just think it’s funny that I would become Mrs. Lee…a name only associated with L’s strict, straight-laced Korean mother, who I love, but we are complete opposites!

So, if you find yourself continually hitting the wall trying to figure out if you should keep, combine, hyphenate or give up your maiden name, think about me. I’m just as torn as you are and as an added bonus…I just might have a redundant name.

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