In today’s world, it seems increasingly arbitrary that children typically inherit their father’s last name. A London-based lawyer, Dr. Charlotte Proudman, recently argued that babies should take their mother’s surname instead, sparking a lively discussion on X (formerly Twitter).
On August 9, Dr. Proudman tweeted, “A message to pregnant women — please give the baby your surname. You carried a baby for 9 months, gave birth, and will be responsible for that child for the rest of your life. When you’re registering the baby, ask yourself: why is the father’s surname more important than yours?”
Her tweet garnered 5.3 million views and over 34,000 likes, leading to a flood of responses. Many explained the historical reasons behind the tradition of giving children their father’s name, but the question remains: do those reasons still hold weight today?
Some argued that giving the baby the father’s name encourages paternal involvement, but others pointed out that such an argument sets an unnecessarily low bar for men.
While traditions surrounding surnames have persisted for generations, is it still relevant in 2023, a time of significant social change? While some defended the custom, others felt it was time to break from tradition and align naming practices with contemporary values. There were also those who believed the decision should be left to individual families, free from societal pressure.
Ultimately, while everyone is entitled to their own stance on baby surnames, Dr. Proudman’s tweet raises an important point: just because a practice has always been followed doesn’t mean it’s beyond scrutiny. No tradition is too sacred to reconsider.