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penny July 30th, 2009

I was editing names in a paper I was writing this afternoon, and asked my new co-author what his middle initial was. He said “Z”, and I said “Wow, your first name and middle name both start with Z?” To which he replied “No, what you know as my name is actually my middle name.”

Of course, here lies the cultural difference. To most Pinoys, a middle name is the surname of their mother. Of course to my co-author, what he gave as his middle name was actually a second name for a Pinoy, like “Jose Maria” has “Maria” as a second name.

Just thought it was striking how different the concept of names for people around the world. I remember reading somewhere that in Iceland, it is customary to add “sson” (or “son”) to your own name as a given name for your son. For example, if you are a man, and your name is Kristoffer, then your son could be named Kristoffersson.

Of course, there are also traditions within families where boys are given names according to a line of fathers/grandfathers. For instance, Jose Sr., Jose Jr., Jose II, Jose III, and so on. My father is a Jose Jr.

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So in my head started other thoughts about names and their context on circumstances and places. And the main thing that fluttered to my brain was about women changing surnames after marriage.

When I was in Manila, I was occasionally referred to as Mrs Jorge. Which isn’t surprising seeing as I had just married, and my husband’s surname is Jorge. Of course, I am still officially going by my maiden name.

Back in Sydney, there is no confusion, as I remained a Ms Reyes. It made sense too, as my citations for papers up until now have me published as Reyes. When Ajay and I married in Sydney, I was asked if I was changing surnames, and I had chosen not to, for it entailed some steps that we didn’t have time to do at that point.

Again, back to Manila. I had met a lawyer in La Salle one time during a seminar, and we had a chit-chat about brides taking their husband’s surname after they marry. It isn’t necessary, and indeed it takes a fair bit of fiddling with documents and such. Not that this bothered me. I had told Ajay that when we are wed, I would be more likely not to take his name. When we have children, it might be easier at that point to do so, so we can all travel together under the same surname. But then again, you can present travel documents along with a marriage certificate, and you’re good to go.

And so there it is, out in the open. I have had several people asking me why I haven’t changed my surname, as they can see plain as day that I still go by Reyes in my networks. I just didn’t change it.

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