The California Legislature is mulling a measure that would make it easier for newlywed husbands to take the last names of their wives.

ADVERTISEMENT

The bill, which would make the name-changing process used by brides available to men, would make California the eighth state to allow grooms to change their names without going through the grueling and often expensive process a legal name change usually entails.

"We have the perfect marriage application for the 17th century," said Mark Rosenbaum, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union, which is co-sponsoring the bill. Rosenbaum represented California groom Michael Buday in a lawsuit aimed at allowing him to take his wife's last name. "Every place Michael went, he had the door shut in his face or he was ridiculed."

Wedding consultant Sharon Naylor said couples are increasingly seeking variations to the tradition of a woman taking the man's last name. She said the most popular variation is combining both last names with a hyphen. However, she said grooms often fear variations from the tradition could lead to ridicule.

"If the groom is considering it, there's always a concern of 'What will the people think at the office? What will my father think?'" she said.