What's in a name?

Sooo, I've a dilemma on my hands.

As you may or may not know - I'm getting married next year.

Me and the hus-bot-to-be had a discussion about whether or not I would change my surname. Initially, I was very vocal about NOT changing my name. I think first he was expecting this as par-for the-course, however, I won *that* argument thusly:

''So, would you change your name to Mr Webb?''
''God, no.''
''I rest my case''

Sabrina, 1, Ian, 0.

My compromise was to go for a double-barrelled name. Sabrina Andrews-Webb. I quite like the sound of that as a possibility, I mused. But still... the hassle of it. And the fact that it's my name - do I really want to change it? Really? Should I have to? 

And a little time has passed. And now I'm having doubts.

We went for a walk on Saturday, along the beach in the sunshine, quaffing ice-cream and for whatever reason, I decided to raise the subject for discussion. Ian declared that he was ambivalent about said name change. And then he said, that if I didn't want to change my name to Andrews, then he'd prefer if I just kept Webb. At first I wondered if this was a sneaky way of getting me to change my mind in his favour. The reason: a double barreled name sounds pretentious. I'm not convinced by this argument at all. I rather like it. And I was a little miffed that he wasn't more impressed with me offering up this as an option, which I felt, was very fair and generous.

If he'd been angry about it, the decision would have been an easy one. I'd have kept my own name and that would have been that - as a feminist point of principle. BUT because now he's capitulated and been super-cool, it's a harder thing for me to decide. Because there is no obstacle - it really is a preference thing. It's down to me to decide, because the more he talked, the more I realised, he doesn't mind what my name is. 

It is a very important decision for me though. If I do decide to change my name - I'll only do it once. So the reasons have to be right. I have to be sure. 

The biggest con for me is - it's my family name. I have a photograph on my hallway wall of my great-grandad Frederick - in his uniform - he fought in the great war. My granddad was in the RAF and worked as a paramedic for many years. Skipping over the next generation - my Dad is a douche-bag - but there is a lot of history in that name. I was the first Webb to go to University, and certainly the first one to complete an MA degree. My graduation certificates say that Sabrina Webb achieved those qualifications. So do my kickboxing certificates. 

And lets not forget....I'm the last Webb in our family. If I change my name, there are no more of us. 

Does it make us any less of a couple if my name stays the same? 
Does it make us any less married?
Does it make us any less of a family?

No, not really.

I think what I'm feeling is the pull of tradition and ''what people normally do.'' 

I guess I have a lot of thinking to do. 

What I'm Listening to:
The Smiths – This Charming Man