Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more

Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by bee_rider on Monday February 10, 2025 @02:23PM (#43004128)

I wonder if we can invent a new convention, of compacting last names. So, if John Richards and Mary Jones have a child, they can give it the last name… Jords. Or Richnes. It only really needs to go out for four or so generations anyway, at which point the folks who have a really strong attachment to the name will be dead. Plus the middle names provides a slot to put your family tree’s most famous name anyway.

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Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by mikepurvis on Monday February 10, 2025 @02:37PM (#43004290)

I know some couples who have gone this route— both taking on a different name at marriage, either a combination of their names or a new one invented from whole cloth. It's definitely a workable option in terms of equalizing the "loss of identity" piece and ensuring that both parties are as all-in on the newly-created family unit.

That said, it does also feel a bit more chaotic and potentially subject to widespread adoption of surnames that are trendy in popular culture.

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Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by javawizard on Monday February 10, 2025 @02:33PM (#43004257)

This reminds me of Zach Weinersmith[0], of SMBC fame.

He was originally Zach Weiner, and he married Kelly Smith[1] and they concatenated both their names together and adopted that as their last name.

There's something I love about that.

[0] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zach_Weinersmith

[1] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Weinersmith

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Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by bjt on Monday February 10, 2025 @02:50PM (#43004423)

Former LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa did the same. (He was born Villar. Wife was born Raigosa.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Villaraigosa

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Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by wink on Tuesday February 11, 2025 @03:37AM (#43010416)

Depends on the jurisdiction, for example Germany is pretty strict.

If A marries B, then either both keep their names, both will be A or both will be B or one or both will be A-B or B-A. No other outcomes are possible, and if one of them was B-C before then the kids can't be A-B-C.

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Re:Surnames from nicknames nobody has any more by marcus_holmes on Monday February 10, 2025 @08:26PM (#43007824)

I heard the story of Mr Alcock and Miss Bulmer getting married and discussing this option. They almost went for "Bulcock" for the shits & giggles.

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