Ladies, Appreciate Your Maiden Name

For years I hated my last name. A third generation Italian with the name "Rockwell". I felt "Rockwell" was too plain. My nationality consists of 75% Italian with a mere 25% English. However, I longed to have a traditional Italian name with a vowel at the end. Both my grandmothers and mother had them: Ferraro, Lembo, and Benaquista. I pondered upon how to change "Rockwell" and often daydreamed of what my married name would be.

Then in 2003, I had the opportunity to switch to "Arevalo", although it was not Italian, it had a vowel at the end. All of the sudden, I valued my maiden name and did not want to change it. Many authoritative women I spoke to, told me, "Keep your maiden name". You achieve some of life's biggest accomplishments carrying your maiden name, i.e. your college degree, your first job, awards. It took me two full years to completely change everything into my married name. Well, maybe not everything, as to this day, I still have one account in my maiden name (wink).

Many thoughts flooded my mind during the name-changing process. Rockwell isn't so plain or boring. Rockwell is a famous name, there is Norman Rockwell, the creative painter, and Rockwell International, a large manufacturing company. Then there was the thought of losing my independence (and, boy did I). The thought of someone, in a way, taking ownership over me. I mean, "why" do we take the man's last name? Our maiden name is with us from birth and is part of our family history that we should not forget.

I am a very traditional person and believe once one is married it should be forever, however, I support divorce for the proper reasons. However, if you do get divorced, keeping your maiden name will eliminate those nosey, curious, prying individuals who often ask the wrong questions at the wrong time. Famous women often keep their maiden names, let's be bold and follow suite.