Last Name Combiner
Getting married? Compare every way to combine your surnames — hyphenated, double-barrelled or a brand-new meshed name.
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Your options for a shared last name
More couples now choose a new family name instead of one partner simply taking the other’s. Here are the common routes.
Double-barrelled
Smith-Jones. Both names joined with a hyphen. Long-established in the UK and increasingly common in the US.
Unhyphenated double
Smith Jones. Two surnames without a hyphen — common in Spanish-speaking families (paternal then maternal).
Meshed surname
Smones, Jonith. A brand-new name blended from both. Unique, but it severs the visible link to both family names.
One partner’s name
The traditional option: one partner takes the other’s surname.
Keep your own
Both keep their names; children take one, the other or a double-barrel.
Middle-name route
Move your birth surname to a middle name and take the shared surname.
Changing your name in the US, UK and Canada
This is general information, not legal advice — rules change and vary by state and province, so check with the official source for where you live.
United Kingdom
Taking your spouse’s surname is usually done with your marriage or civil partnership certificate. A double-barrelled or meshed name is generally treated as a change of name, which you document with a deed poll. See GOV.UK’s guidance on changing your name.
United States
Many states let you choose a new surname on your marriage license, but which combinations are allowed differs from state to state; others require a court petition for a meshed name. After the change, update your Social Security record first, then your driver’s license and passport.
Canada
In Quebec, both spouses keep their birth names in law; changing your name requires an application to the Directeur de l’état civil. In other provinces and territories you can usually start using your spouse’s surname with your marriage certificate, and some provinces (such as Ontario) offer a simple election to take a hyphenated or combined surname. A brand-new meshed name normally needs a formal change-of-name application through provincial Vital Statistics. See our Canada guide.
Meshed surname examples
Real meshed suggestions from the tool for common US and UK surnames.
| Surnames | Meshed options |
|---|---|
| Smith + Jones | Smithnes, Jonesmith, Smines, Smitones |
| Taylor + Brown | Bror, Brolor, Browylor, Broylor |
| Garcia + Miller | Garciller, Garler, Milcia, Garciler |
| Wilson + Evans | Evanson, Wilvans, Wilevans, Wilsons |
| Johnson + Walker | Walson, Walkernson, Walkson, Walkeson |
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Frequently asked questions
What is a double-barrelled surname?
A surname made of two family names, usually joined by a hyphen, like Smith-Jones. The term is especially common in the UK.
What is a meshed surname?
A new surname created by blending two, such as Smith + Jones = Smones. It gives a family one short shared name, but it’s brand-new, so it doesn’t visibly carry either original name.
Whose surname goes first in a double-barrelled name?
There’s no rule. Couples choose by sound, alphabetically, or by tradition (in Spanish naming, the paternal surname usually comes first). Our tool shows both orders.
Can I legally change my name to a meshed surname?
Usually yes, but the process differs. In the UK a deed poll is generally used. In the US some states allow it on the marriage license and others need a court order. Check your state or GOV.UK guidance before deciding.
What surname do children get?
Parents can usually choose either surname, a double-barrel or a meshed name when registering the birth. Many couples decide the family surname with future children in mind.
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