Last name to-be?

[title-track-1.livejournal.com]

With the recent birth of Harlow Winter Kate Madden i have begun to question taking your significant others name for the baby if not married.
I'm sure celebrities like Halle Berry and Jessica Alba will most likely do the same.

My fiance and i will not be married until after the baby for finanical reasons but the last name issue has just recently come to light.
Financially i find it being harder for me if i DO give his last name and then later change it when we're legally married but then i have family opinions & such to deal with. Tradition or whatever.
I actually think my fiance would be very upset with me if i didn't. I haven't exactly addressed the issue with him yet.



How 'customary' is it to give the fathers last name?
What exactly do you think are the pro & cons of this?

Comments

[taraemily.livejournal.com]

I think it all depends on the situation. I thought long and hard about what surname I will be giving my son, I considered hyphens, using my surname then changing it afterwards or using my fiance's surname. I have decided to use his surname, we won't be married for a few more years, but I plan on spending the rest of my life with him and I would change my name, so financially this is easier. I also don't have a big tie to my surname as I don't speak to my father anymore, so that did help my decision. My fiance was really supportive and said he didn't mind what I decided, but I believe he would have been really hurt if I used my surname.