In our society today, the traditions of marriage have diversified most notably when it comes to last names. In some marriages, couples may decide to keep their maiden last names or follow traditions and adopt their partners ‘ last names. In some cases, some couples may decide to forge their own family name.
However, Brooke Marshall, a 29-year-old nurse from Dallas, Texas, plans to follow the conventional route and adopt her groom’s last name. Jake, her fiancé, who is also 29, has a humorous last name. However, Brooke is undeterred and willingly embraces her soon-to-be husband’s last name. She is excited about becoming “Brooke Hornibrook” and plays into the humor. Brooke is a neonatal NICU nurse.
Viral reveal
By now, the joke is glaringly obvious. Brooke adopting Jake’s last name would result in her being called “Brooke Hornibrook.” After excitedly informing her family and friends of their engagement, Broke and her fiancé joked that it was their version of “Bond, James Bond.” She took to social media to capitalize on her humorous last name. She joined in on a recent TikTok trend where users share funny soon-to-be names. She saw this as the perfect chance for her to reveal she will be “Brooke Hornibrook.” When speaking to Metro, she said, “When I saw this trend, it was after the ‘Milly Willy’ girl posted, and I thought, ‘Oh my god, if ever there was an opportunity for me to take part in a trend, it’s this one.”
Naming norms
Most American women still change their last name after marriage, according to recent surveys and studies. Pew found 79% of married women in opposite-sex unions took their husband’s name, 14% kept theirs, and 5% hyphenated. Younger, highly educated, and Hispanic women more often keep their names, though the tradition remains strong overall. Historical research shows name keeping rose among college graduates through 2001, but overall retention stayed under 20% nationally. Men rarely change names. 92% keep their last names.
Couple’s backstory
Brooke and Jake met during their month in college in Arkansas 6 years ago. Jake, now a fuel operations worker, and Brooke sustained a long-distance relationship for the first 4 years. Brooke explained that they were living in different states while Jake was enrolled in the military. She also explained that she was skeptical at first, thinking the relationship might not work, but still joked with Jake about her taking his last name.
Tradition and choice
As both the Marshall and Hornibrook families are very traditional, Brooke anticipated taking Jake’s last name early in the relationship. She added that her friends are supportive of her last name adoption, saying that if anyone could make the last name work, it’s Brooke. “I’m quite the jokester. It is funny, there’s no denying it.” Brooke says her future last name makes for a humorous conversation starter and ice breaker.
Online reactions
Brooke excitedly shared her future last name on social media to receive praise and some pushback. Some commenters congratulated her on her engagement, while others indirectly suggested he adopt her last name with comments urging “Mr and Mrs Marshall.” However, many did voice strongly opinionated takes on her autonomy, referring to her not having to adopt her groom-to-be’s last name. Comments stating she is “not his property” littered the comment section, but Brooke refuses to engage with the drama. She emphasized that the decision is hers and reflects her values. She also stated that she will be retaining her maiden name as a middle name.
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Proposal moment
According to Brooke, in spite of Jake’s traditional views on relationships, delayed his proposal “a lot longer than expected” she joked. Jake proposed in December after “dragging his feet,” flying in friends and family to celebrate. He flew in Brooke’s friends and family to be a part of her memorable occasion. She says although the proposal may have taken long, she believes it was worth the wait. “He really put a lot of thought into it. We had a surprise after-party, which I kind of suspected, as he can only be so discreet,” she said, appreciative of Jake’s efforts. Jake has since moved back to Texas and now Brooke and he live together.
Jake’s Thoughts
Jake does not use TikTok, so he misses most trends. He heard about this last name trend and immediately knew Brooke would jump on it. “It was bound to happen,” he said with a grin. For Jake, he is honoured that she will take his last name and ecstatic that she will be his wife. He even joked about a worst-case mashup. “Imagine if it became ‘Brookehorni!’” he teased. For Jake, this stays light and joyful. According to Jake and Brooke, it will be a story they will share for years to come with all those they meet.
Conclusion
Brooke and Jake embrace their future together with humor and tradition. Despite online comments, with some calling for Brooke and Jake to adopt her last name, they remain confident in their choice. The couple looks forward to their wedding and sharing their story. Ultimately, ‘Brooke Hornibrook’ represents their commitment and shared future together.
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