By Meiko Takayama
Many years ago, I started a new job right after I got married, and my manager asked me if my husband was Japanese. I remember laughing because my husband’s name is Rocco (more of an Italian than Japanese name!) When I mentioned this, my manager said, “Well, your last name is Takayama.”
I’m the 26th generation of our family line of Takayamas, and with no brothers, the name ends with my sister and me. That was one of the many reasons why I chose to keep my name – but did you know that about 80% of heterosexual married women in the U.S. choose to change their name after marriage?
It turns out that there are some professional pros and cons:
Pros: For women who wish to change their careers, a name change can wipe their digital footprint and enable them to start anew. It can also be a useful tool to help separate personal and professional personas.
Cons: Women who are established in their careers at the time of marriage may lose momentum in the form of publications, awards, their digital footprint, or even a reputation attached to a previous name. And announcing your marriage through a public name change may result in assumptions about your personal life, i.e., future plans to have children.
Countries worldwide have different cultural and legal expectations regarding surnames. Ultimately, it’s great to live in a country where we have the right to choose our names since it’s such a personal choice. Rocco Takayama does have a nice ring to it though, doesn’t it?