What's in a name? "A rose is a rose is a rose," "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Are names really that important? Well, perhaps not in the esoteric world of poetry, but in the modern corporate world of business and legal identity, it is. Your driver's license, credit cards, bank accounts, are all based on name identification and recognition.
Today it is common practice for women who marry to retain their maiden name instead of assuming their husband's name as has been the custom until now. The use of Ms. instead of Mrs. is ever more commonly seen. Psychologists have studied this phenomenon and have found a variety of reasons. Some women like their name, some women keep their name for business reasons or tax purposes, some professional entertainers do it because of the recognition factor, some feel that giving up their name would indicate an inequality in the marriage relationship. The woman who changes her name in marriage loses the identify of her family lineage, while the husband retains his.
A recent survey conducted at Wichita State University surprisingly found that the majority of young college students favor a one-name marriage. However, as young women leave the educational level and enter the world of politics, business, entertainment, or sports, their attitudes change. "The real reason that women decide to keep their names usually are not as controversial as detractors might imagine. Often women have established themselves professionally and don't want to confuse long-time clients and colleagues."
The question naturally comes up as to what is the origin of this custom of a woman taking her husband's name in marriage. Is this tradition just a social custom, something that we do or don't do according to our choice? As far as we go back into the past, this custom seems prevalent in all cultures. It must have had some beginning somewhere, sometime. The Bible gives us the only accurate picture as to man's origin, so let us go back to Genesis to find the answer to our question.
According to the Genesis story, Adam and Eve were created on the sixth day of creation. They were surrounded by a beautiful garden teeming with newly created plant and animal life. God had created Eve to be a special companion to Adam. In doing so, He instituted the marriage ceremony on the day they were created. God Himself performed the marriage ceremony and the angels were witnesses. He pronounced them man and wife and then turned to the throng of witnesses and introduced the happy couple as Mr. and Mrs. Adam. "He called their name Adam, in the day they were created." Gen. 5:2, KJV.
