Women who keep their married name YEARS after the divorce.

fierystormcloud

This isn't having a go at women who do keep their married name years after the divorce by the way. It's just that me and several friends were discussing it last night. And wondering why they do it.

EG, Bianca Jagger (who married Mick Jagger,) was divorced from him almost 40 years ago, and they were only married 8 years, yet she still has the name.

Leo DiCaprio's mother got married to Leo's dad in the late 1960s and they divorced ten years later, yet 40 years on, she still has the name.

And didn't Cheryl Tweedy/Cole/Fernandes/Versini keep Ashley Cole's name for about 4 years after the divorce. They had no kids. She changed it when she married her current beau, but if she had not remarried, the chances are that she would still be Cheryl Cole.

There are many other examples of famous women like this.

A woman I work with got married in 1980 and divorced in 1986, and still has the her ex husband's name. (They had 2 kids.) Another woman I know married her husband in 1991 and they divorced 3 years later; no kids. Yet 20 years later she still has his name.

I can understand a woman keeping the ex's name if your kids have that name, as some women won't want their kids to have a different name to them when they're young, but if you never had kids together, then why? Also, why would you not revert back to your maiden name when the kids are grown? (If the kids having different names when they're young is an issue...)

Not having a go. Just curious. Why do women keep the ex's name for many many years after the divorce?

Mrs_pbradley936

I would think that "ordinary" people are not clued up about how to change it other than by another marriage. Celebrity types probably still want to be associated with the "star".

LilElvis

Maybe they dislike their maiden names.

Some might also wish to retain their name for professional reasons, just as some keep their maiden name on marriage.

Those are the "rational" reasons that spring to mind.

seashore22

I've been Mrs Seashore 10 years longer than the time I was Miss ...... If I ever got divorced (a very happy marriage so unlikely) I would keep my married name as it's who I am now.

System

fierystormcloud wrote: »

And didn't Cheryl Tweedy/Cole/Fernandes/Versini keep Ashley Cole's name for about 4 years after the divorce. They had no kids. She changed it when she married her current beau, but if she had not remarried, the chances are that she would still be Cheryl Cole.

For somebody in the public eye their name is their 'brand', if you like, and their choice of name would primarily be a business decision.


Google Cheryl Tweedy and on the first page of results you will see "singer guilty of assault but cleared of racist attack" (referring to an unpleasant incident where she gave a female toilet attendant a black eye)

Google Cheryl Cole and that particular episode in her past doesn't seem to come up.


As long as no major controversies occur, I would imagine she'll keep the name of her current husband until such a time if/when she marries again.

DevilsAdvocate1

If I got divorced now I'd keep my married now. For one thing I have one of the old fashioned paper driving license and I want to hang onto this for as long as possible. Also, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of changing passports, bank accounts, credit cards, the house etc into another name.

But the big thing is that I want the same surname as my three children (who are all boys, so won't be changing their names).

fierystormcloud

Some very good points here.

It does strike me as odd however, that a woman keeps her married name when she was only married say 5 years, and they had no kids. And they were divorced 20 years ago.

As pbradley said, maybe they don't know how to change it, or just don't think to.

elsien

My mother divorced 35 years ago and still uses her married name because she also wants to have the same name as her children.

fierystormcloud

avogadro wrote: »

For somebody in the public eye their name is their 'brand', if you like, and their choice of name would primarily be a business decision.


Google Cheryl Tweedy and on the first page of results you will see "singer guilty of assault but cleared of racist attack" (referring to an unpleasant incident where she gave a female toilet attendant a black eye)

Google Cheryl Cole and that particular episode in her past doesn't seem to come up.


As long as no major controversies occur, I would imagine she'll keep the name of her current husband until such a time if/when she marries again.

Good point.

DevilsAdvocate1 wrote: »

If I got divorced now I'd keep my married now. For one thing I have one of the old fashioned paper driving license and I want to hang onto this for as long as possible. Also, I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of changing passports, bank accounts, credit cards, the house etc into another name.

But the big thing is that I want the same surname as my three children (who are all boys, so won't be changing their names).

elsien wrote: »

My mother divorced 35 years ago and still uses her married name because she also wants to have the same name as her children.

Yeah I can understand it more when people have kids.

Is it still necessary when the kids are grown though, and maybe don't even have your 'married' surname?

comeandgo

I was known as my married name for many years and it was well known in my line of business so I just kept it, it helped me financially to keep the name.

tea_lover

My marriage lasted a matter of weeks before we separated. Divorced as soon as we could. No kids, no contact since divorce. That was 15yrs ago and I still use my married name. I just prefer it.