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It would be a good idea for children to take the surnames of both their parents.

Do you agree?

That happens in some countries already, like Spain.

I have both my parents' surnames. My first surname is my father's, my second surname's my mother's. What I don't agree with is the fact that at first the first surname always had to be the father's. Fortunately, this has changed and now you can have your mother's surname as your first.

I agree, no problem for me, but I notice some difficulties in the future. How should we name our grandchilden? :?

Dixie wrote:That happens in some countries already, like Spain.

I have both my parents' surnames. My first surname is my father's, my second surname's my mother's. What I don't agree with is the fact that at first the first surname always had to be the father's. Fortunately, this has changed and now you can have your mother's surname as your first.

So your mom's is your middle name then? Or are those last names joined? :?

LennyeTran wrote: So your mom's is your middle name then? Or are those last names joined? :?

In my country, women do not take their husband's surname when they get married. That's why I chuckled when you called my mom "Miss Carceller" That's my father's name. My mother's last name is Guzman. So my surnames are Carceller Guzman.

mamuta wrote:I agree, no problem for me, but I notice some difficulties in the future. How should we name our grandchilden? :?

Children take their parents' first surnames. Their children, then, do the same. The second surname is going to be lost on the way.

Dixie wrote:

LennyeTran wrote: So your mom's is your middle name then? Or are those last names joined? :?

In my country, women do not take their husband's surname when they get married. That's why I chuckled when you called my mom "Miss Carceller" That's my father's name. My mother's last name is Guzman. So my surnames are Carceller Guzman.

No wonder. I thought I forgot to call her Mrs. instead. So, you have a middle name also right? And you use the last-middle-first name pattern?

LennyeTran wrote: No wonder. I thought I forgot to call her Mrs. instead. So, you have a middle name also right? And you use the last-middle-first name pattern?

I don't have a middle name. Well, there was a time when it was a tradition to name girls Maria plus the name chosen. I was one of those unfortunate kind. So I have two names (Maria Mercè) but I only use that in bureaucratic situations.

What do you mean by "the last-middle-first name pattern"?

Dixie wrote:...My first surname is my father's, my second surname's my mother's...this has changed and now you can have your mother's surname as your first...Children take their parents' first surnames...

Hm, interesting. Now I see some problems. For example: you and your brother - is it possible you have different first surname if your parents wanted to? And imagine parents with two sons: they could have different first surnames so their children would have totally various surnames :? A bit complicated, isn't it? And what about family tradition?

mamuta wrote: Hm, interesting. Now I see some problems. For example: you and your brother - is it possible you have different first surname if your parents wanted to? And imagine parents with two sons: they could have different first surnames so their children would have totally various surnames :? A bit complicated, isn't it? And what about family tradition?

No, that's not possible. Parents can decide the order of the surnames, but I don't think it's allowed for the children to have the surnames in different order. That would be a mess!

Dixie wrote:

LennyeTran wrote: No wonder. I thought I forgot to call her Mrs. instead. So, you have a middle name also right? And you use the last-middle-first name pattern?

I don't have a middle name. Well, there was a time when it was a tradition to name girls Maria plus the name chosen. I was one of those unfortunate kind. So I have two names (Maria Mercè) but I only use that in bureaucratic situations.

What do you mean by "the last-middle-first name pattern"?

Ha, same like Vietnam. Once upon a time girls in Saigon got their middle name as Thi and guys's as Van or Minh. All of my aunts and uncle got those, including my mom. We were born when my grandma decided to stop the tradition by giving her grandchildren different middle name. (not a lovely one, anyway). My dad named me and my brother; therefore, we have different middle name then the rest of the kids in the family. 8)

i mean, is it M. Maria Carceller Guzman or the other way around?

mamuta wrote:

Dixie wrote:...My first surname is my father's, my second surname's my mother's...this has changed and now you can have your mother's surname as your first...Children take their parents' first surnames...

Hm, interesting. Now I see some problems. For example: you and your brother - is it possible you have different first surname if your parents wanted to? And imagine parents with two sons: they could have different first surnames so their children would have totally various surnames :? A bit complicated, isn't it? And what about family tradition?

Two of my grandma's brothers have different last names. One has the mother's, and the other one has the father's even though they share the same father. She said at that time the kid could carry the last name of whoever was present. My great-grandpa was on his business trip when his wife gave birth; hence, the different last name. They didn't really care much. I think this is better than just take the father's last name only since I think I deserve to carry my mom's last name. Why would my dad get the privilege when he never raised me?

LennyeTran wrote: i mean, is it M. Maria Carceller Guzman or the other way around?

It is Maria Mercè Carceller Guzman. Maria Mercè would be my full name. Nobody calls me that anyway. Well, except for some teachers I had in high school

Dixie wrote:... I don't think it's allowed for the children to have the surnames in different order. That would be a mess!

but you are not sure, aren't you? That's the point

mamuta wrote: but you are not sure, aren't you? That's the point

I'm not sure because it never occurred to me, therefore I have never bothered to check. However I'm quite sure it's not possible. What a mess! :D

Thx LennyeTran for your fascinating family story :)

Dixie wrote:

LennyeTran wrote: i mean, is it M. Maria Carceller Guzman or the other way around?

It is Maria Mercè Carceller Guzman. Maria Mercè would be my full name. Nobody calls me that anyway. Well, except for some teachers I had in high school

So middle name, first name, and then last name. Interesting! If you were in the States, your first name would be Maria, middle name is Merce and Carceller, and last name is Guzman. Otherwise, those last names have to be joined..

hi... good morning....
well.....using surname is bot very popular in my country..... just for certain people like chinese and Indians...but.... no problem actually

pocahontex wrote:...it will make a long name. Sometimes you'll face a difficulty to write your name onto a test paper because there is not enough room to write such a long name.

I haven't thought about it but you're absolutely right!

pocahontex wrote:...it will make a long name. Sometimes you'll face a difficulty to write your name onto a test paper because there is not enough room to write such a long name.

mamuta wrote:I haven't thought about it but you're absolutely right!

That's not a big deal my friend. Just write your short name instead of the full one. Take a look at this :
Hi, my name is pocahontex blablabla blablabla blablabla...

Hallo, my name is mamuta blablabla blablabla blablabla...

Cool huh !!!
Sorry just kidding my friends.


My dear friends, to me, it's not a big deal whether you take your father's name or your mom's name or even both.

But to me, the best one is when you take none of them. Just your name without anything behind or in the front.

Nowadays, lots of people are using their family name to get advantage of the situation. For instance, if his/her father/mother is a public figure or popular artist, they use that name for their interest. Some people are hiding behind their big family name. To me, it's not a proper strategy to use family name to get something.

I wish we didn't have any family name or surneme so that everybody would be equal in any sectors.

Sometimes I'm confused when calling some people who take their parent's name . This is one example.

A grand father has two sons.
Suppose the first one is Marco Ginting and the second one is Marlon Ginting. "Ginting" is the family name.
Both sons are called "Ginting".
When they are in a family gathering, then we call "Ginting". You already know the result right!
The three men would look at you because their names are "Ginting". Can you imagine if there are ten "Gintings" there. What would happen? What a confusing thing huh !!! What a mess!!! :P

I, myself use both my parents' surname. i even use it in my resume. I don't think it matters whether which surnames you use.

I think it is not important for the children to have their parents' surnames or their fathers' surnames. Because parents are still parents no matter what happens, and the chilren will bring their parents' blood in their body, right?

You got it dear Stinks.

Take neither of them.

Don't use any surnames.

in our country we usually use our father's surname, 'cause we belong to this family now, but for me, it doesn't matter 'cause I have my father's and my mother's surname.

nightwish wrote:in our country we usually use our father's surname, 'cause we belong to this family now, but for me, it doesn't matter 'cause I have my father's and my mother's surname.

Wow, you've got both.

Then, what's your full name?

I bet, it must be long or at least three words.

ha-ha....actually it's not thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat long.....
I'm a lucky girl, 'cause my father and my mother surname's is the same because of that I said that I use both of them :D....

nightwish wrote:ha-ha....actually it's not thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat long.....
I'm a lucky girl, 'cause my father and my mother surname's is the same because of that I said that I use both of them :D....

Good excuse to cover your real name.

Psychologically speaking, you are not an open person.

Anyway, I still appreciate your closeness.

We need it sometimes.

But not always, especially to uncle Bambang.

Good excuse to cover your real name.

I'm not making any excuses here dear,
my mother is my father's cousin. :D

Psychologically speaking, you are not an open person

you don't even know me to analyze my personality .

nightwish wrote:

Good excuse to cover your real name.

I'm not making any excuses here dear,
my mother is my father's cousin. :D

Oh I see. Married to a cousin.

I don`t agree with this,it`s very absurd to have two surnames.

I think it depend on your country. it is not neccesary, your childrent can take only one father's surname or mother's surname. some case surname of mother and father is the same.

I think children should take both parents' surnames. The order of them should be a choice too.
From my point of view, having both surnames is a reflection of two different family inheritances and of a complete equality between them.
Names are important, they go with us throughout our life remembering who we are and where we come from and, on the practical sense, it helps to avoid mistakes.

Annaa wrote:I don`t agree with this,it`s very absurd to have two surnames.

WHY?

In my opinion, children should choose their own surnames in a logical age (13-14 years). Imagine a father who hits his son and then he dissapear from his life. Perhaps the kid only wants to have his mother´s surname (the reason is obvious). Or,for example, imagine your father´s surname is Hitler or Stalin and you live in Deutchland or Russia. It could be a problem if you have others political ideas.
Anyway, in Spain we take both parents´ surname and it isn´t a problem. It woul be a good idea can change it.

NURIA: In my opinion,it's better children take both parents' usernames because the username is a part of us,something that identify us and with two surnames it's easy to recognize someone I think

i think mother's surname is as important as father's , and children should have both of them, parents have to decide the order of them togheter.

In my opinion, children should take both parents’ surnames because you are part of your father and of your mother too.
Why is it in some countries there is only father’s surname?
As I see, having only your father’s name or when you are married, your husband’s name is a very sexist measure. We are in the 21st century and the equality is an ethical value but in this case, it isn’t applied.
I live in Spain and all the children have both surnames and also women keep their own surnames when they get married. Other countries ought to learn this intelligent measure to making more obvious the sex equality.

I agree with Andrew’s because you can have different political opinion with your parents and a name can mark your life. You should be free to change your name for an other that you like more or sounds better.

Annaa wrote:I don`t agree with this,it`s very absurd to have two surnames.

NURIAB:I'm not agree with yo because Ithink two surnames are so important like one of them

From my point of view your mother´s surname is as important as your father´s so I can´t understand why ,for example in the United Kingdom or France, they only take the father´s one.Your name is your most important identification mark and it should show the inheritance of the two families where you come from.

In Spain we take the surnames of both the parents but I know that in other countries people only take the surname of the father and when a woman marries she takes the surname of her husband. I don´t think on it like a sexist measure, I think that it´s only a different tradition and an easier way of doing administrative paperwork.

noeliam wrote:I live in Spain, and here we have two surnames.Usually the first one belongs to our father and the second one comes from our mother. For me, both of these are an important part of our identity and in some cases they can mark our destination. The surnames are an important way of showing the family´s story, but it is only my point of view because I was born in a country where every one of us have two surnames.On the other hand I would like to say that to me to have two surnames isn´t so important as some of the other users is because to have one or two surnames isn´t an own decision and it depends of the country´s culture

noeliam: For me too it isn´t a problem to have one or two surnames, in our country we have two surnames but for me it wouldn´t be a problem to have only one

martasofia wrote:I think children should take both parents' surnames. The order of them should be a choice too.
From my point of view, having both surnames is a reflection of two different family inheritances and of a complete equality between them.
Names are important, they go with us throughout our life remembering who we are and where we come from and, on the practical sense, it helps to avoid mistakes.

I think it shouldn´t be an option, the order of your name has to do with tradition ,we can´t change it that easy.

well its a tradition, its not so easy to cahge , but we are evolutioning, changing our traditions every day, so... why not?
i think having this option means equality and progress, and , if parents dont want to change the order of the surnames , they dont have to do it.
however, as i said, i think we need TWO surnames, cause you are better identified in the society

ligros wrote:In Spain we take the surnames of both the parents but I know that in other countries people only take the surname of the father and when a woman marries she takes the surname of her husband. I don´t think on it like a sexist measure, I think that it´s only a different tradition and an easier way of doing administrative paperwork.

mr ligros, i think it is a tradition, a different tradition and, in fact, a sexist one... on that way, mother's surname seems to be less important than father's.
you have to realise that this tradition is being followed in countries that most of the laws are sexist ( vote, legal punishment, etc )