[Happygal]

Darlin' girl, I don't even know why yer bothering explaining. :-)

I know one woman who was so brow beaten by her husband that she changed her FIRST name, because he insisted she take his name in marriage.

His surname was Curtin. Her first name was Annette.

Now could you imagine living your life as Annette Curtin? (No, me neither). SHE now goes as Ann Curtin. But she should have double-barrelled her name. If she was Annette Malone-Curtin, there wouldn't have been a problem.

[Gabz]

It's not so much a matter of explaining - just showing some of the holier than thou types around here that feminazism isn't the only reason for hyphenated names.

If they don't like my hyphenated name they are more than welcome to fund me to change it - if not they can shut up. My husband has absolutely no problem with my name and does not feel the dollars for changing it are worth expending - but likes my idea if someone else has a problem they can foot the bill to change it.

I love my husband, he has his priorities straight. How my name is spelled or written is not one of his priorities.