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JLo defends taking Ben Affleck’s surname

<p dir="ltr">Jennifer Affleck, formerly known as Jennifer Lopez, has defended taking her husband’s surname saying it’s a “power move”. </p> <p dir="ltr">The 53-year-old singer married Ben Affleck, 50, in an intimate ceremony in Vegas on July 17, just three months after being engaged (for the second time).</p> <p dir="ltr">Speaking to Vogue for the December issue, Mrs Affleck said that her decision to take her husband’s surname didn’t make much of a difference. </p> <p dir="ltr">“People are still going to call me Jennifer Lopez. But my legal name will be Mrs Affleck because we’re joined together. We’re husband and wife. I’m proud of that,” she told the publication.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I don’t think that’s a problem... it’s not traditional. It doesn’t have any romance to it. It feels like it’s a power move, you know what I mean?</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m very much in control of my own life and destiny and feel empowered as a woman and as a person. I can understand that people have their feelings about it, and that’s okay, too.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But if you want to know how I feel about it, I just feel like it’s romantic. It still carries tradition and romance to me, and maybe I’m just that kind of girl.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mrs Affleck then went on to divulge more details about the couple’s engagement 20 years ago and why it didn’t work out.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We were so young and so in love at that time, really very carefree, with no kids, no attachments,” she said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“We were just living out loud, and it turned out to really bite us. There was a lot underneath the surface there, people not wanting us to be together, people thinking I wasn’t the right person for him.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I became very guarded because I realised that they will fillet you. I really wish I could say more. I used to be like that. I am like that. But I’ve also learned.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple co-parent five children - Max and Emme from Mrs Afflec’s ex-husband Marc Anthony, and Mr Affleck co-parents Violet, Seraphina and Samuel with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Instagram</em></p>

Relationships

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Couple flip coin to see which surname they will take

<p dir="ltr">A very fair-minded couple decided that they would flip a coin in the middle of their wedding ceremony in order to see whose surname they would take on.</p> <p dir="ltr">Pearl Lee, 28, and Collin Hansen, 25, got married in March and it was only a few months prior to the wedding that they realised they were both the last to carry their respective family’s surnames. </p> <p dir="ltr">The pair didn’t want to argue about the decision, and so instead they decided to leave it to fate on the day of the wedding.</p> <p dir="ltr">Come the wedding ceremony, the celebrant duly flipped a coin …. hailing Collin as the very lucky winner, and officially making them Mr and Mrs Hansen. </p> <p dir="ltr">A video was shared to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@diaryofasolotraveler/video/7079776982254226734" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> showing the coin flip, with many sharing their own experiences when it came to taking a surname. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I know a couple whose families had a paintball match to decide! Winning side determined the last name,” someone wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I wanted a random name but they said no. I’m Fischer, he’s Peeples. We got the green light to combine and change our names to fishpeople though,” another revealed.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My maiden name is Back, my husband is Stolhand, I wanted us to be the backhands. He said no,” another shared.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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Why Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan's baby will have a different surname

<p>The arrival of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s child is quickly approaching, but the royal baby’s surname is still in question.</p> <p>While royals are recognisable without last names, they may still be required to use one for certain situations, such as when they are attending school, enlisting in the military, or signing official government papers.</p> <p>It is common for royal parents to use their assigned dukedom for their children’s surname. For example, Prince William and Prince Harry went by William Wales and Harry Wales when they served in the military due to their father being the Prince of Wales. Similarly, Prince George is given the last name Cambridge after his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.</p> <p>If Harry and Meghan decide to continue this protocol, their child will take on the last name of Sussex, after their titles as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.</p> <p>However, the couple might take on a very different last name: Mountbatten-Windsor. This is the official surname for the descendants of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II who don’t hold a royal title, such as His/Her Royal Highness, Prince and Princess. </p> <p>As Prince Harry is not in the direct line of throne succession, his children will not carry any royal titles. Nevertheless, the Queen may grant the child a royal title should she wish to do so.</p> <p>What do you think the surname of Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan’s child should be? Let us know in the comments.</p>

Family & Pets

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Newly single mum divides the internet over changing her baby's surname

<p>Most people generally have their future children’s name thought of before the test of time. And once a couple find out they are pregnant, that’s one of the main topics of discussion to make sure both parties agree with what the child will go by for the rest of their life.</p> <p>But that’s just the first name – what about the baby’s surname?</p> <p>A mother looking for advice turned to parenting forum<em> <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3371050-to-want-daughter-to-change-name?pg=1" target="_blank">Mumsnet</a></em>, asking whether she should change her one-year-old baby’s surname – and it has the internet divided.</p> <p>Posting on the forum, the confused mother wrote, “I’m just about to get divorced and my 1yr DD [darling daughter] has his surname,” she wrote.</p> <p>The woman went on to clarify that she will be changing her surname back to her maiden name and doesn’t want her daughter to carry a different name due to the father’s choice of walking out on them because they’re “too much hassle".</p> <p>“He said to me he finds being a dad stressful and he wants to focus on himself,” she continued.</p> <p>She said she knows that he won’t be fond of the decision, and she is aware that she will need his permission to have it changed.</p> <p>She has asked the internet if it would be unreasonable to change both hers and her daughter's to a double-barrelled surname, combining both his and her names.</p> <p>“I know its just semantics, but I always dreamed of having a child and I love being a mum and I don’t see why I have to lose our family name connection because I married the wrong man.”</p> <p>Her post gathered mixed responses as some people felt it wasn’t important to have matching names, suggesting the woman simply keep her married name to match her daughter.</p> <p>“What’s in a name?” asked another, who said she should ask her dad’s permission, but then “if he says no then that’s that isn’t it? It won’t really affect her life so don’t let this upset you too much.”</p> <p>A few wise posters advised the mother to focus on the future:</p> <p>“If you were to marry again in the future would you take your new spouse’s name? Would any of the children of that marriage take your ‘maiden’ name or their father’s name. Your dd [darling daughter] could turn out to be the only one with your ‘family name connection’.”</p> <p>They then went on to suggest that the mum just leave it as it is for now and allow her daughter to make her own decision in the future.</p> <p>Others mentioned that the father, who is no longer in the picture, shouldn’t have a say in what their child is called.</p> <p>“If he’s really said he wants out because he wants ‘Me Time’ and you’ll be the main carer of DD [darling daughter] then yeah why shouldn’t she have your last name?” replied one person.</p> <p>Another user questioned as to why he would “really give a sh*t what her name is” if he didn’t want to be a dad. “Just tell him you’d like her to have the same surname as you and to sign here please.”</p> <p>And one poster responded bluntly, writing, “I would change it. Why does your name trump his? Because he cannot be bothered to be part of your family so why should he have the family name.</p> <p>“Just because he’s the biological father didn’t mean he’s the proper dad. You and your dd [darling daughter] will have a bright future without this deadweight. Sorry he turned out to be such an arse.”</p> <p>Do you think the newly single mum should change her child's surname to her own? Let us know in the comments below. </p>

Technology

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Woman with “rude” last name blocked from social media

<p>A woman has shared her surprise after she was blocked from a website because of her “offensive” name.</p> <p>Natalie Weiner, a sports journalist from New York, discovered she was blocked after attempting to create a social media account with MaxPreps, a US company that lists information on high school sports leagues.</p> <p>When entering her last name into the online form, she received a notification saying: “Offensive language discovered in the last name field”.</p> <p>Natalie took to Twitter to share her amusing predicament, writing: “This is without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to me … I am weeping.”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">this is without a doubt the best thing that's ever happened to me <a href="https://t.co/rnVkmhB2dy">pic.twitter.com/rnVkmhB2dy</a></p> — Natalie Weiner (@natalieweiner) <a href="https://twitter.com/natalieweiner/status/1034533245839450113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Natalie quickly received a flood of support from other people who had faced similar issues due to their unfortunate surnames.</p> <p>Paul Gay explained that he was unable to enter an online form for health insurance because his last name was considered “profanity or a not allowed word”.</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr">I was trying to get health insurance ... <a href="https://t.co/ueeNzUBH4h">pic.twitter.com/ueeNzUBH4h</a></p> — Paul Gay (@paulrgay1) <a href="https://twitter.com/paulrgay1/status/1034669087509688320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2018</a></blockquote> <p>Steve Suconcock replied: “Tell me about it, Steve Suconcock is terrible for usernames.”</p> <p>One user, Mike Dickman, explained that he is also all too familiar with the hassle of having your name rejected.</p> <p>“As a Dickman I know the struggle is real,” he wrote.</p> <p>Philip Sporn wrote: “When I got my computer I had to set my last name as 'Spron' because Sporn contains offensive language.</p> <p>Surprisingly, a man named Alex Rock, also revealed that he has difficulty because of his surname.</p> <p>“My name's Rock, some websites tell me to 'choose a real name'. Facebook for instance.”</p> <p>Do you know someone who has had trouble because of their surname? Share the story in the comments below. </p>

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Meghan Markle’s new royal surname is a real tongue-twister

<p>When Meghan Markle marries Prince Harry on May 19, 2018, she will almost be able to keep her initials.</p> <p>But her name will become much longer, as she will move from her birth name, Rachel Meghan Markle, to Rachel Meghan Mountbatten-Windsor.</p> <p>The double-barrel surname comes from the surnames of both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, after a change to royal laws was made in 1960.</p> <p>According to the official British royal family website:</p> <p>"In 1960, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh decided that they would like their own descendants to be distinguished from the rest of the Royal Family, as Windsor is the surname used by all the male and unmarried female descendants of George V.</p> <p>“It was therefore declared in the Privy Council that the Queen’s descendants, other than those with the style of Royal Highness and the title of Prince/Princess, or female descendants who marry, would carry the name of Mountbatten-Windsor."</p> <p>Officially though, Meghan will be known as Her Royal Highness Princess Henry of Wales. This is based on the convention that the wife of a royal takes on the feminine version of his name. Which means that Duchess Kate is actually Princess William.</p> <p> It’s likely that Meghan will become a duchess too after marrying Harry, but this will depend on what the Queen decides. According to <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/2017/03/02/16/11/what-will-megan-markles-name-be-if-she-marries-harry">9Honey News</a>, it’s been speculated that Harry will be named the Duke of Sussex, which is the most prominent vacant title currently available.</p> <p>There is also the issue of Markle’s Catholicism. Despite the rules being changed to allow senior royals to marry a Catholic, there is still a law in place that would prevent their children from taking the throne.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/2017/03/02/16/11/what-will-megan-markles-name-be-if-she-marries-harry">9Honey News</a>, the King or Queen is also known as the Head of the Church of England. They carry the title of Defender of the Faith, namely, the Anglican faith. However it is possible that when Charles takes the throne he may amend these rules.</p> <p>Will you be watching Prince Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding in May? Tell us in the comments below. </p>

Relationships

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Shocking reaction to man who took his wife's surname

<p>Last month, newlywed Grant Phillips, née Davis, <a href="https://honey.nine.com.au/2017/12/19/14/37/why-i-took-my-wife-surname" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">wrote an article for 9Honey</span></strong></a> explaining why he decided to take his wife’s surname.</p> <p>There were a number of reasons, from not having a strong connection to the family with whom he shared his birth surname to wanting to keep his wife’s surname going, as it would have died with her as one of two girls, with no cousins to carry on the name.</p> <p>“I know a lot of people out there will see it as somewhat emasculating, like I’m somehow less of a man by taking my wife’s name,” Grant wrote.</p> <p>“I have had people act shocked and confused when I’ve told them that I’m taking her name – one male colleague even challenged my decision saying it’s "not what blokes do".</p> <p>“To me, this is more a reflection of society's views on masculinity.</p> <p>“The tradition of a woman taking a man’s name was built along the premise that women become property of their husbands after their nuptials. There’s no legal or religious reason, it’s all about male dominance.</p> <p>“Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with woman who choose to take their husband’s name. My sister and my mother did it, not to mention 80 per cent of Australian women.</p> <p>“But I do have an issue with the fact that when the situation is reversed, the husband’s masculinity is thrown into question.”</p> <p>For Grant, the act was a mark of love, respect and commitment, but little did he know, his unusual decision would lead to an influx of death threats.</p> <p><img width="498" height="370" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267065/untitled-2_498x370.jpg" alt="Untitled -2 (1)" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p>“Just one of the messages I’ve received because I took my wife’s surname,” Grant captioned this horrible message he received on Facebook.</p> <p>One online commenter even told Grant to “go kill yourself”, while another said they “hope your wife can’t have kids, that’ll be God’s way of punishing you.”</p> <p>However, others have thrown their support behind the couple, with one person saying, “This makes you more of a man than most... honouring your wife this way indicates what a true bloke you are! I reckon you’ve started a trend.”</p> <p>Another wrote, “Wanted to say respect to you for doing what you are doing for your lovely wife. Your decision does not affect the lives of others, and their ignorance goes to show what a dark hole they're living in.”</p> <p>Tell us in the comments below, do you think it should be more acceptable for men to take their wife’s surname?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Grant Phillips/Instagram.</em></p>

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