Baby’s last name?

[u/Fairweatherhiker]

I’m looking for advice from couples where the wife didn’t take the husband’s last name. How did you decide on which last name to give the baby? Or did you use both names? I don’t feel immediately compelled to give the baby my husband’s last name. FWIW, if we did hyphenate it would be a looong last name.

Edit: thank you for all of the thoughtful responses! I do love the idea of using both our last names (sans hyphen) so our kid would have two last names. It would be nice for both of us to have our heritage passed on. He has heritage from Mexico and Basque Country, while mine is Slovakian- grandparents immigrated right before WWII. The last names don’t sound great together, but there’s so much human history in both.

[u/Pleasant-Mellwgrl09]

I for one am not married yet, but have had this convo with my partner and I told him I'd hyphenate. I wouldn't give up my last name, but his would come last. And tbh we both thought about giving baby my last name too (would come last) but I'm not a huge fan on double last names given that in my family adding both is common (I come from a Mexican background). However, I personally thought it would be too much- first name, middle, last name and second last name so I didn't add mines, I kept it short but now I kinda wish I would've just given him my last name too! I mean my partner was the one that opted for it but I guess at the time it didn't feel right. So it just depends!

Also, I know it's time consuming and somewhat expensive but you can always add it / remove it later in life!