Can a man take my surname?

Can a Man Take His Wife’s Surname? Yes — And It’s More Common Than You Think

For decades, tradition dictated that a woman would take her husband’s surname after marriage. But times have changed — and so has the law. The outdated notion that only women change their names is long gone, thanks in part to legal shifts like the Jordaan ruling, which affirmed that either spouse, regardless of gender, has the right to adopt their partner’s surname.

This means a man can absolutely take his wife’s surname — and many do. Whether it’s for personal, cultural, or symbolic reasons, name changes are no longer bound by gender roles. In heterosexual marriages, some men choose to honor their wife’s family name, especially if they’re building a blended family or starting a shared brand. In same-sex marriages, the flexibility allows both partners to choose the name arrangement that feels most authentic to them — whether that means combining names, hyphenating, or one (or both) taking a new surname entirely.

The process itself varies by country, but in most places, changing your surname after marriage is a straightforward administrative step. Documentation like marriage certificates often streamlines the update across legal, financial, and government records.

What’s most important is that the decision feels right for the couple. Names carry identity, history, and emotion — and today, couples have more freedom than ever to define what that means. Whether a man takes his wife’s name, a woman keeps her birth name, or both create something entirely new, the choice is deeply personal — and entirely valid.

Ultimately, love doesn’t follow a script — and neither should surnames.