Should I hyphenate my baby’s last name?

So me and my boyfriend have been together for 3 years. He got me a promise ring but only got it after I got him one. So it never really felt genuine. Anyways, we aren’t married and he doesn’t mention marriage. He mentions moving in somewhere else together from time to time. But overall my concern is the baby we are having. In a month I’ll be delivering our baby girl and I’ll have to sign a certificate and put her name and everything before I leave the hospital. We haven’t fully discussed what her last name will be. I honestly am not a big fan of my last name-it got me ridiculed a lot in school. But I’m also not married to the guy and don’t have his last name. He’s not a very stable relationship if I’m honest-has brought up coparenting numerous times. So I just feel like if I give her his last name, it would lead to the situation my sister is in where the baby has this guy who never shows up last name and the rest of her family doesn’t. I don’t want her to want to change it down the road in the case he does leave. I also don’t want to disrespect him as the father. I also don’t want her to have such a long name to fill out on paperwork. She has a first, middle, and now hyphenated last name? I don’t know. That’s where my head is at. What would you guys do in this situation?

iamnikki · 31-35, F

What would you guys do in this situation?

I've always found it odd for children to have Dad's last name , when they aren't married to the mother.

Like you stated above, he's your unstable boyfriend.
If he doesn't stick around, the the child will have a random last name.

I'm also not fond of "Junior's" either.

zonavar68 · 56-60, M

My 6 yo daughter has a combined last name because her mum and I were never married. It can be respectful to a child's heritage to use both surnames for that child.

LeopoldBloom · M

In your situation, the kid should have your last name. I agree that "Lupeptne" is an unusual one, but at least the kid will have the same name as everyone else in your family. If you're not married to the guy and don't even know if he'll stick around, there's no reason to follow tradition and give the kid his name, even hyphenated. Giving kids a hyphenated last name just makes it harder anyway.