The question of 'what's in a name' is one Kristine Gick and Jason Wagner have been pondering for a long time.

Gick (pronounced 香蕉视频直播榡ick香蕉视频直播�) has just sent in government documents to change her name. And 香蕉视频直播� so has Wagner.

They are both changing their last names to a new one, one that contains letters from both their surnames.

Once the documents are processed, the couple will be Kristine and Jason Wickner.

Kristine explains she became curious about names when she was a child. Her mom香蕉视频直播檚 surname at birth had been Grattan, her dad香蕉视频直播檚 Gick. When her parents married, her mom changed her name to Grattan Gick.

香蕉视频直播淚 was probably super annoying, always asking why, why, why about everything,香蕉视频直播� says Kristine. 香蕉视频直播淚 liked my name, I was proud of my name. But if my mom香蕉视频直播檚 name was Grattan Gick, why weren香蕉视频直播檛 we?香蕉视频直播�

It led her to think about when she has kids of her own.

香蕉视频直播淚 had a disconnect 香蕉视频直播� my mom had feminist values but it didn香蕉视频直播檛 get translated into my name.香蕉视频直播�

Jason says that before he and Kristine got married two years ago, they began discussing what to do.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e really big on equality, and we thought, well we香蕉视频直播檒l just keep our own names.香蕉视频直播�

However, then they considered children.

香蕉视频直播淗ow do you explain to future children, why do you have Daddy香蕉视频直播檚 name or Mommy香蕉视频直播檚 name?香蕉视频直播� Jason asks.

They also considered hyphenated names, but decided no. When the children get married, they could end up with several hyphens.

The idea of creating a new, shared name came from a movie Kristine watched.

香蕉视频直播淚 would like to note he has more letters than I do, but percentage wise it香蕉视频直播檚 pretty close,香蕉视频直播� says Kristine with a grin.

Both she and Jason emphasize that although the combined name is right for them, they don香蕉视频直播檛 judge what other people choose.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think any person takes what your identity will be as a married person lightly,香蕉视频直播� says Kristine. 香蕉视频直播淚 have friends who took their husband香蕉视频直播檚 name, but they were still as thoughtful and intentional as our decision.香蕉视频直播�

The couple considered keeping their current names for work, given that they香蕉视频直播檝e both worked hard to build a name in their respective fields. However, Kristine has recently changed careers. Jason is soon to become a professional engineer, so he must use his legal name on documents. The time seemed right.

Jason says the new name appeals to his sense of fairness.

香蕉视频直播淚t goes back to the dad basically selling his daughter 香蕉视频直播� now you香蕉视频直播檙e his property and you have the same last name. Just because it香蕉视频直播檚 the way it was always done and traditionally, it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 make it right.香蕉视频直播�

Jason said while his family had a little resistance at the beginning because it was a new idea and there were thoughts of losing his heritage, they now understand.

香蕉视频直播淚f you do it the 香蕉视频直播榥ormal香蕉视频直播� way, you香蕉视频直播檙e still losing that heritage,香蕉视频直播� he says, noting that on a family tree, the woman香蕉视频直播檚 birth name is normally in brackets, so her heritage disappears. But with a new, shared name, the woman香蕉视频直播檚 and the man香蕉视频直播檚 birth names would be in brackets.

Both Jason and Kristine say most people express positive reactions to their plans.

香蕉视频直播淢y co-workers said do it quickly so we can use you as an example,香蕉视频直播� Jason smiles.

Kristine points out there are lots of logical solutions to any problems people present to them. She notes that a few people have said creating a new name 香蕉视频直播渋s way out there, so non-traditional,香蕉视频直播� but she sees the opposite.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very traditional, having one name for a nuclear family.香蕉视频直播�

One thing that frustrates her is some people assume Jason could not possibly be okay with the plan and is only doing it because she is forcing him.

香蕉视频直播淚t paints a picture of me as a monster, dominating, and creates the story and narrative that Jason doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have a backbone香蕉视频直播� so it香蕉视频直播檚 painful to both of us.香蕉视频直播�

A few people have said, 香蕉视频直播榳hy do you care, it香蕉视频直播檚 just a name?香蕉视频直播�

Kristine responds by turning the question around: 香蕉视频直播淲hy do you care, it香蕉视频直播檚 just a name?香蕉视频直播�

She sees the plan as an evolution.

香蕉视频直播淏ecause my mom had already recognized there was a problem. She was one step in the evolution.香蕉视频直播�

Jason and Kristine expect to receive confirmation of their new name within two weeks. It will have cost them about $1,000 total.

Jason says it has seemed harder for him to make the change, as some clerks he encountered hadn香蕉视频直播檛 done it before. But he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 see himself as a groundbreaker. He says he and Kristine are both very aware of gender issues.

香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檝e never tried to follow the 香蕉视频直播榤en can香蕉视频直播檛 cry,香蕉视频直播� the stereotypical stuff. I don香蕉视频直播檛 see myself as a trailblazer, I see it as what comes naturally香蕉视频直播�, what should be normal.香蕉视频直播�

Kristine sums up their decision.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 about people who have identities separate from each other but who are wanting to have something that represents the partnership we have together.香蕉视频直播�