Barbara Bush and Craig Coyne just got married in an intimate wedding in Kennebunkport! Barbara is the second daughter of former President Bush to tie the knot. So, we’re curious with her iconic name if she’s going to change her name or keep her maiden name.
While men have been carrying ancestral names for centuries, it is less common for women to carry the first names of living relatives. Barbara Bush was named after her grandma, former First Lady Barbara Bush. What an honor, and also what a big name to try to live up to. Can you imagine getting in trouble as a child and being told you were tarnishing your grandma’s good name? (We’re guessing about this… but still, can you imagine how you would feel?)
We’re curious if Barbara loves her current name, or if her marriage will give her the opportunity to take a new name and almost a new identity separate from her grandmother. Let’s examine the four main name-change factors that may influence Barbara’s married name change decision.
Our Expert Analysis
Factor One: The Bride’s Age
In the context of name change, the older a woman is at the time of her marriage, the more likely she is to keep her maiden name in some way. Barbara is currently 36, an age that usually correlates with women keeping their maiden name.
Factor Two: Level of Education
The more degrees a woman holds, again the more likely she is to hang onto her maiden name. Ms. Bush graduated with a degree from Yale, which has us thinking she will keep the name that is associated with that prestigious degree.
Factor Three: Occupation
If a woman has a career that relies heavily on name recognition, such as being a doctor, lawyer, or real estate agent, she is less likely to change her name after marriage. Barbara is the co-founder of a large non-profit and of course the daughter of former President George Bush. Her name is very tied to her work and activism.
Factor Four: Family Tradition
Family tradition can heavily influence a woman’s married name change decision. Barbara’s twin sister option to keep her maiden name and add her husband’s name after her marriage in 2008. She became Mrs. Jenna Bush Hager, a name-change choice that allowed her to keep her ties to Bush, but also adopt her husband’s family name.
Our Prediction
Name change after marriage is a very personal choice. While there are the known factors associated with name change influence, there are also the factors of personal style, what their spouse wants, and if they view name change as a way to show commitment. In our expert opinions, Barbara Bush will soon be Mrs. Barbara Bush Coyne.
Regardless of her choice we wish her a lifetime of love and happiness… and if she does opt to change her name, we’d love for her to use the new MissNowMrs name change app!