“A message to pregnant women — please give the baby your surname.” she said in a tweet that has now racked up more than 5.7 million views. “You carried a baby for 9 months, gave birth, and will be responsible for that child for the rest of your life.”
She went further to challenge the norm, adding: “When you’re registering the baby ask yourself: why is the father’s surname more important than yours?”
Her post quickly made waves online. The replies started rolling in, and as expected, the reactions were anything but calm and collected.
One user responded: “Your surname is literally your dad’s…”, while someone else offered a counterpoint with: “Counter-argument: why is the baby’s maternal grandfather’s surname more important than the baby’s father’s?”
Someone else proudly shared that they carry their father’s surname, using the word “proud” to show how they felt about it. They hinted that this might influence what they choose for their own kids.
“Kings, If she gives your child her father’s name, the child automatically becomes her father’s responsibility.” they declared. “Don’t stress it or spend a dime on a child who isn’t carrying your surname.”
Despite the backlash, there were quite a few voices online who backed the lawyer’s take. One of them wrote: “100% – this should be the default.”
Another user shared a personal story to support the argument, explaining: “I wish my mum had given me her maiden name. I hate my surname and it’s association to my father.”
Not everyone was caught up in the frenzy, though. Some users chose to stay neutral, suggesting that people should just do whatever works best for their situation.
As the online arguments rage on, maybe it’s worth taking a step back and thinking about ways to sidestep the whole surname drama entirely.
For example, in certain traditions, boys often take their father’s surname, while girls carry their mother’s. And even then, it’s flexible—families can choose what feels right to them.
So, what’s your take?