To take your husband's last name — or to keep your own? That's a question every engaged woman faces, even if she's a celebrity who earned her fame under her given name. Many celebs choose to take their spouse's last name at least privately, including two who bucked tradition and took their wives' last names.
Some of these women's choices might surprise you — since we don't know them by any other names. However, this marital surname tradition is alive and well in Hollywood.
Should celebs be different than anyone else when it comes to changing their names?
Image via Jason Merritt/Getty Images Entertainment
Victoria (Adams) Beckham
When Victoria married footballer David Beckham, she took his last name, which is a whole lot better than Spice. Oh wait, that's right, that wasn't really her last name! It was Adams.
Angelina Jolie Pitt
When Angelina Jolie Pitt wrote an op-ed on her cancer-preventing surgery, her byline quietly announced to the world that she'd taken her husband's last name along with Jolie. Her children with Brad Pitt go by both last names as well.
Jessica (Simpson) Johnson
Jessica Simpson, the brand, is going strong, but privately she's known as Jessica Johnson, wife of NFL tight end Eric Johnson.
Amal (Alamuddin) Clooney
Despite building an impressive professional career as a human rights attorney under her given name, Amal Alamuddin kindly accepted the last name of her husband, an actor known as George Clooney.
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Portia (De Rossi) DeGeneres
When actress Portia De Rossi married Ellen DeGeneres, she took her wife's name — and why De heck not? Portia still uses her De Rossi professionally.
More from The Stir: 5 Reasons NOT to Hyphenate Your Name After Marriage
Salma (Hayek) Pinault
Salma Hayek took her husband's last name, Pinault, at the request of her daughter Valentina. "I said to myself, 'This is who I am now. I’m starting a whole new life. Why shouldn’t I share it with the people who have been supporting me my whole career, who have been with me since the beginning?’" she told People magazine. "I should let them in on the fact that I’m a different person, and a better person."
Khloe (Kardashian) Odom
Once a Kardashian, always a Kardashian. Maybe that's why Khloe felt so comfortable taking her former husband's last name, Odom. Alas, the marriage did not last and she's back to Kardashian.
Sarah Michelle (Gellar) Prinze
Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar uses her husband's last name, Prinze, privately.
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Jack (Gillis) White
There's no reason why a man can't take his wife's name! Musician Jack White took his wife Meg White's last name when they married and together they formed the band White Stripes. The couple, who originally posed as siblings, split in 2000; however, Jack still goes by White.
Kaley (Cuoco) Sweeting
Big Bang Theory actress Kaley Cuoco took her husband's last name when she married tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2013.
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Fergie Duhamel
Stacy Ann Ferguson took the name "Fergie" as a member of the band, Black Eyed Peas. When she married actor Josh Duhamel, she added his last name.
Jennifer (Garner) Affleck
She still uses her given name professionally, but to friends and family, it's Jennifer Affleck. She wears it well.
