Your Married and Last Name Not Been changed..who Name Dose Baby Get at Hospital

Updated on February 03, 2011
C.M. asks from Union, SC
48 answers

My husband and i are expecting in march we just got married......I am afaid i am not going to be able to get my last name changed in time before his birth....due to insurance and other paperwork....II know that when your not married and u have a baby the chid gets the mothers last name at the hospital on the baby braclett...I know u can put his name in the birth certificate..and i can legally name him what ever i want...but i am worried if i cant get my named legally changed they will give our son my last name while we are at the hospital instead of my husbands...He will be baby boy my last name not his

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X.M.

answers from St. Louis on

It shouldn't be a problem. I haven't changed my name and my son got his father's last name with no problem. :)

1 mom found this helpful
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C.T.

answers from Charleston on

I don't know if it's different from state to state, but my son was born in CA before my husband and I were married and I was able to put whatever name I wanted on the birth certificate. So I gave my son my partner's last name, knowing that eventually I'd take it too (well, hyphenate it at least.)

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D.K.

answers from Pittsburgh on

They will ask you. I was not married (and have since chosen to keep my name) and my son has my husband's last name. No one at the hospital seemed confused in any way.

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A.F.

answers from Burlington on

I am not (nor have I been) married and my daughter has her father's last name. I put her first, middle and last name on her birth certificate form and that's her name. It doesn't matter if you're married or not your child can have your husband's (and soon to be your) last name.
Congratulations!

2 moms found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

The baby will get your name at the hospital and on his bracelet but dont worry you can change the name almost immediately. I had my baby in July and I still use my maiden name (M). So my baby was called baby M but that is just for the purposes of linking your baby with you at the hospital. The next day the nurse came in to get his full name (his first and last) and thats when we changed his name to my husbands.

2 moms found this helpful

J.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

In California, at the hospital I delivered it doesn't matter what goes on the bracelet. It's just to match the baby with the mother. Its the mom that stays in the hospital, not the dad. So if the mom and dad have different last names, then the bracelet needs to be the moms for identification. So yes the last name on her bracelet was my last name. The last name on the birth cert was both of ours by our choice. If we had wanted just his we could have put his.
The bracelet and the birth certificate have nothing to do with each other. The bracelet is for hospital identification and the birth cert is the baby's legal name. At least thats how it was where I delivered.
Good Luck and congrats.

2 moms found this helpful
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B.B.

answers from Missoula on

You can put whatever name you want on the birth certificate, your last name, his last name or anything else you want.

2 moms found this helpful
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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.K.

answers from Boston on

Your baby gets whatever last name you decide to give and yes he will be baby your last name as a security reason they check the last name on the bracelets to make sure they match every time they bring the baby in and out of your room.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.T.

answers from Atlanta on

i think the baby would get the husbands last name.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Why didn't your last name change at the wedding when you signed the marriage certificate? I never did anything but turn in a copy of my mariage cert. to SS for my card to get the name change on it. Getting your drivers license changed is as simple as going to the tag agency and showing them your marriage certificate.

Your name is already changed as far as the law is considered. Isn't it? It legally changes at the signing of the marriage certificate. The changing of the drivers license and SS card is just a formality, the name change is already done legally by marrying him. If you choose to keep part of your old name then you just start using that form of it.

Call your county court house and talk to the marriage license person and ask them about the legality of the name change. I think it is when you sign the paper and it is filed, after that it is just up to you to put your new legal name on the drivers license and SS card but it's already changed in the court house and thereby legally your actual name.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

You can put whatever you want on the birth certificate - they don't allow swear words but you know what I mean.

So - doesn't matter what your name is. You fill out the paperwork and it gets processed.

1 mom found this helpful

E.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

I kept my name when I got married. Really, I think parents of daughters should just not give them a last name AT ALL. We should just wait for girls to get an identity when they find a husband to give them one. j/k -- sort of. = )

You can give your baby-to-be whatever last name you want. You wanna name him Princess Consuela Banana Hammock -- Go right ahead. The bracelets issued at the hospital have nothing to do with what you will or want to name your baby. They are simply a way to make sure you do not leave the hospital with the wrong baby.

My children have my husband's last name just because it seemed easiest. But since I gave birth to them, they also have my last name as part of their middle name -- Meaning, they have two middle names i.e. William Henry Smith Jones (no hyphen).

1 mom found this helpful
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I.L.

answers from Alexandria on

You're married, the fact that you haven't changed your name should not matter. Baby can have dad's name. Shouldn't be a problem.

1 mom found this helpful
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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

Give the baby your husband's last name, whether you change your or not.

1 mom found this helpful
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T.C.

answers from Clarksville on

A lot of hospitals require the baby & mom have the same name during the hospital stay & then the last day your husband would just file a name change and then your son would have his name. Its simple.

K.I.

answers from Los Angeles on

They ask you! You can give your baby ANY name you want!

Don't stress...just make sure you are very clear what the last name is!

A.M.

answers from Eugene on

In the hospital they always give the baby the mother's last name. When you fill out the paperwork for SS cards and such you can choose which surname you want. I am not married to my SO, even though we call each other husband and wife, and our little boy has his father's last name- no problem!

L.E.

answers from Los Angeles on

My husband and I have different last names... in the hospital our son had HIS last name and of course that went on the birth certificate. You get to decide your child's last name--- so no worries. They should honor whatever name you tell them is his. The only thing that might say your name on it is his birth bracelet, but it will have the mother's name on it regardless.

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A.S.

answers from Atlanta on

For safety reasons the bracelet will match your name. You could check when you pre-register at the hospital, but I would think for security you would want it to match your name no matter what.
When you fill out the birth certificate you can fill it out with the correct name.
If you want to expedite your name change, go to the SS office and get your new SS card and then go to the DMV and get your license changed. Even though your license name change will be on a temporary license paper, it will still be done in time to register at the hospital with your new name.
I do see why for insurance purposes it might be easier not to change your name until after the big event, though. Dealing with insurance is bad enough without having a name change to deal with too.
Best of luck with your new baby and congrats on your marriage! (and don't worry about the small stuff.)

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L.B.

answers from Eugene on

I haven't changed my last name with the DMV or the SS# I just told the dr office that my name is incorrrect because I haven't gotten my birthcertificate yet... At my Dr office every bill that comes is to my married name, not the name on my DL. As long as you have your marriage license you should be able use whatever name you want... Call your insurenace today and see what proof you need, mine didn't even need my marriage license and only my ss#, and that was to actually put me on the plan. You still have a month that is plenty of time. It took me 3 weeks to get my birth certificate so I would get ontop of it today:) And if you don't get your name changed its just on his bracelet that will say your last name, that way they can match him up to your bracelet... EVerything else will say your married name... I dont' really see the issue with that....

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M.S.

answers from San Francisco on

When you check into the hospital give them your "new" last name, and just tell you are C. _____. And tell them you want the to baby be Baby Boy _________.

T.

answers from Tucson on

I hadn't changed my name either at babies time of birth. I think in hospital she was called (baby my maiden name) on her bracelet and bassinet, but they give you birth certificate to fill out. You put your husbands name on it. Both my girls have my husbands name and i hadnt changed my name. I finally did, I didnt do it out of stubborness. haha

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M.J.

answers from Harrisburg on

The reason why the put your last name on the bracelet is so they know thats YOUR baby. :)

Im not married yet and my daughter has her daddy's last name.

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M.D.

answers from San Francisco on

Ask if they can put both last names on the Baby Boy _____ bracelet. They need your name for security, which is a good thing. And bring your marriage certificate for proof.

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M.H.

answers from Spartanburg on

Use your husbands last name then when yours changes you don't have to pay to have your child's name changed

T.N.

answers from Albany on

Well in NYS anyway, a baby is given the legal last name of the mother.

If the father and mother have two different last names, you can request the baby have it's father's last name. There will be some paperwork for him to fill out.

Just to be sure, why not call the hospital administration office and ask this question. Or google it?

Congrats on the new addition!!

:)

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S.H.

answers from Huntsville on

I'm in AL, but when my daughter was born we weren't married. We were allowed to name her whatever we wanted, as far as I know! But we gave her my (now) husband's last name.

Just saw Lynn M's answer, and yes my daughter was "tagged" with my last name, but her birth certificate had Dad's.

P.M.

answers from Tampa on

If you show your marriage license/certificate - I'm sure they'd allow the baby to have the Father's name, if that is your desire.

I didn't change my name after getting married and my children will all have my last name. I'm on baby #2... :)

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C.G.

answers from Augusta on

The hospital will call the baby "Baby Mom's last Name" or some variation of that. They never put a first name for babies either, because technically they don't have one yet! It doesn't matter what they call the baby though. You can put whatever you want on the birth certificate paperwork. After the baby is officially named, if he or she comes back to the hospital they update the medical record with the baby's real name.

G.T.

answers from Modesto on

Lots of unmarried women give the baby the dads last name.

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G.D.

answers from Atlanta on

You are the patient so the baby will have your name on his/her bracelet. This is for idenity and safety reasons.

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J.B.

answers from Atlanta on

You can put whatever you want! I've never legally changed my name to my husband's last name and I doubt I ever will. We'll be married 11 years in July -and it's yet to happen ;-) When I had my children, we put his last name on the birth certificate for both of them. I have friends who are married who gave the baby their maiden name for his/her last name too -in this day and age it's up to you two, but there's no impediment to putting your husband's last name on the birth certificate just because yours hasn't changed.

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E.M.

answers from Johnstown on

Whatever name you decide to give. It's the same as with unmarried moms--my bro's little guy has his last name even though my bro and the baby's mom aren't married. It's up to the mom.

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K.C.

answers from Wichita on

I don't see a problem. You are married. Let the hospital know you are married & take a copy of your signed marriage certificate if your licence hasn't been changed yet. Your name changed the day you got married.
If nothing else call the hospital & ask about it & tell them when you got married & that you have not gotten all the paperwork back with your new name.

God bless!

M.J.

answers from Dover on

Every state has different rules so you need to look into what those rules are for South Carolina if that is where the baby will be born. You should be able to get a phone number for the birth records department online through google.
I meant to add, I've read some of the responses & several moms are telling you that you write in whatever you want and that is what the baby gets named. That is false information. Like I said, every state is different. I know the laws in New Jersey because it's where I lived both times I was pregnant, but otherwise I'm not sure. NJ is one of the states where if you are married, the child gets your husband's last name, and if you are not, he/she gets yours. Period. It can be changed later on, but that is the way the law is currently written. With that being said, in a situation such as yours, if you are legally married & gave birth in NJ, then the child would have your husband's last name.

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S.B.

answers from Kansas City on

you can put whatever you want on the birth certificate, your last name, your husbands, or even make one up! They will probably put your last name on the hospital bracelet, but you or your hubby should be the ones who fill the birth certificate out, my husband did.

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B.

answers from Augusta on

It's what ever name you put on the paperwork for him.
But to get your name changed all you have to do is go down to the social security office with your marriage license , drivers license, and current social security card. Then with the new social security card go down to the DMV and get a new license.
http://weddings.about.com/od/getorganized/a/changeyournam...
Not sure what the other stuff has to do with getting your name changed.

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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

You can use either name. I wasn't yet married to my husband when we had our child and we gave him her last name. As long as he is listed on the birth certificate as the father, you don't have a problem.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Not necessarily true. I wasn't married when my son was born by gave him his father's last name. Handwritten form. Just wrote in what we wanted his name to be. In most states you can name your baby ANYTHING you want. 3, 4, 5, 10 names beginning with HRH if you truly wanted. Not that the hospital won't try and talk you OUT of an outlandish name, but in most states it's your right as parents to name him as you choose.

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M.C.

answers from Washington DC on

The baby ID bracelet will have your last name. The way it works here in VA is that you and dad will receive 'baby' bracelets with 'Baby (Your Last Name)' on them. This helps the hospital identify the parents. The baby will be 'Baby Y', because you are the registered patient at the time of the delivery.

Someone from the hospital will stop by your room after delivery and give you the birth certificate form to fill out. There you can fill in or correct any of the information before its submitted to the state for issue.

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J.V.

answers from Chicago on

They will ask you. I was in the same situation. My husband and the baby had a matching bracelet.

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R.P.

answers from Cleveland on

i dont see what the big deal is about him having your madian last name while you are there when legally he will have you and ur husbands last name.

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C.K.

answers from Chicago on

I am married, but never change my last name. At the hospital the baby get my last name, but on birth cert they got the father's last name as we wanted it to be. I think they will ask you what name you want on birth cert. While in hospital, they just want to make sure the baby is yours, hence they are using mom's name.

V.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

It's alright if that happens. It really means nothing, they just have to do it for security reasons. It happened to me in October... Sorta. I gave our son my boyfriend's last name, but his bracelet still says 'baby boy (my last name)'. Yes, when he's older he's going to have questions but just explain to him what happened. If you are worried that they are going to get confused about what to put on the actual birth certificate, don't be. Where I delivered, they had us fill out all that information so that there was no confusion. If you want his bracelet to say 'baby boy ___' for sentimental reasons, I don't think that there's a way around it but it's really not that big of a deal. Would you rather you baby have your name on the bracelet and be givin to you immediately when you ask for him, or have your husbands name on the bracelet and not be givin to you until you prove he belongs to you since your last names don't match?

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W.K.

answers from Washington DC on

as far as i know, you can write whatever you want on the birth certificate. nothing is filled out for you.

L.M.

answers from Dover on

I don't know specifically for SC but here in DE although the hospital may tag the baby as Baby "mother's last name" you can name the child whatever you want (father's last name included).

You should be able to go to your local ss office with your marriage license and file for a new card. Same for driver's license. Then notify your insurance company. Should be able to have your name changed very quickly and your whole dilemia goes away.

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K.L.

answers from Philadelphia on

You can give your child any last name you want. It's your child. That's true even if your not married. My brother and his gf (who never married) had a baby and she has my brothers last name. Really, what name you give your child is totally up to you!

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