Can a Muslim woman keep her maiden name after marriage?
Yes. A Muslim woman may keep her maiden name after marriage. Islam doesn't require a wife to take her husband's surname, and Muslim women traditionally kept their own family names. You are free to keep your name, take his or use both, as long as the choice doesn't hide lineage or mislead anyone.
Does Islam require a wife to change her name?
No. There is no Quranic or Prophetic instruction that a woman must take her husband's name. In early Muslim society, women were known by their own and their fathers' names throughout their lives, for example Khadijah bint Khuwaylid and Aisha bint Abi Bakr. The idea of a wife taking her husband's surname is a cultural custom in many Western countries, not a religious rule. In several Muslim-majority countries, women still keep their own family names after marriage.
Why lineage matters
Islam places importance on knowing a person's family line. The Quran tells believers to keep family names accurate, saying adopted children should be called by their fathers' names (Quran 33:5). The aim is to avoid confusion over parentage, not to decide what a wife is called. Whichever name you use, it should not hide who your family is.
Practical choices in the UK and the US
- Keep your name: legally allowed. Your documents stay as they are.
- Take his surname: you can use your marriage certificate to update documents such as your passport and driving licence.
- Use both: some women hyphenate or use one name professionally and the other socially.
Think about work, qualifications, travel documents and any future immigration or school paperwork. If you are also a convert changing a first name, see How do I legally change my name to a Muslim name? You don't have to change your name at all to be Muslim. See Do I have to change my name after becoming Muslim?
What about the children's names?
Parents can decide together whether children carry the father's surname, the mother's, or both. Many Muslim families choose the father's surname because it reflects lineage, while the mother continues to use her own. See How do I choose a Muslim baby name?
Talk it through with your spouse
For some families, a name is symbolic and for others it is purely practical. Be honest about your feelings, and listen to his. Neither choice shows more or less love or religious commitment. If one family feels strongly, explain your reasoning kindly. Early Muslim women, including the Prophet's ﷺ wives, remained known by their own names, so you are on solid ground whichever you choose.
- Islam does not require a wife to take her husband's surname.
- Early Muslim women were known by their own family names after marriage.
- Lineage matters: children's parentage should stay clear (Quran 33:5).
- Choose what works legally and practically, and discuss it with your spouse.
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