I began writing an article about the different uses of name changes in marriages throughout the world. I will continue the list of countries in this article. I hope that you are finding them as interesting as I am!
India
The child is given the father’s surname and then changes to her husband’s surname when married. In some of south India, the women usually take the man’s first name instead of his last name. The woman’s first name is then usually given as her maiden name.
Japan
The married couple must by law pick one surname. The woman may use the man’s or the man may use the woman’s surname. The man more commonly uses the woman’s surname if the woman’s family does not have a son to carry on the family name for them. However, the oldest son in the family usually keeps his name. It is then up to the younger sons on whether they take the wife’s name or not. The woman may choose to socially or professionally use her maiden name. However, by law, the man and woman must use the same name for official purposes.
The Philippines
Typically a child’s middle name is the mother’s surname and the child’s last name is the father’s surname. When a girl gets married she drops her mother’s name and uses her father’s surname as her middle name and her husband’s surname as her last name. Professional women by choose to use a hyphen in their name for use in the profession.
Taiwan
It is most common for the women to keep their own names.
It is a growing trend for the couple to make up a new name. Many couples choose to use the letters from each of their surnames and make a new one. In most countries this name has to be approved or made legal through a court system.
Options for Changing Your Name
Changing Your Name- The Process