Staff Reports
In an era obsessed with individualism and so-called “progressive” values, the tradition of sharing a last name in marriage is under attack like never before. The cultural elites and mainstream media have spun a narrative that taking your spouse’s last name is somehow oppressive or outdated, as if unity and commitment are relics of a bygone era. But let’s be honest—marriage is about forging a new family, not about clinging to the self above all else. The act of adopting a shared last name is a powerful, time-honored symbol of that unity, and it deserves to be defended.
Critics argue that keeping separate last names allows each spouse to “maintain their identity,” but this misses the entire point of marriage. When two people stand before God, their families, and their community to vow lifelong partnership, they aren’t just agreeing to cohabitate. They’re pledging to build something greater than themselves—a new family, a new legacy. The shared last name is a public declaration that they are in this together, come what may.
The left’s push to discard this tradition in the name of “modernity” is just another attempt to undermine the institution of marriage itself. If we treat marriage as nothing more than a contract between two autonomous individuals, we lose sight of its true purpose: the creation of a stable, loving environment where families can flourish. The symbolism of a shared last name matters because it’s a daily reminder of the commitment and sacrifices that marriage requires.
Let’s not pretend that keeping separate names is some grand act of liberation. In reality, it often signals a reluctance to fully embrace the unity that marriage demands. If you’re not willing to share a name, what else are you unwilling to share? Marriage calls us to set aside a bit of our individualism for the sake of something greater—a family, a future, a legacy.
At the end of the day, the tradition of taking a shared last name is about more than paperwork. It’s about standing together, united in purpose and identity, ready to face the world as one. That’s not oppression—that’s the very heart of marriage. And it’s a tradition worth preserving, no matter how loudly the culture tries to shout it down.
