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

Gick (pronounced B次元官网网址榡ickB次元官网网址�) has just sent in government documents to change her name. And B次元官网网址� 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 momB次元官网网址檚 surname at birth had been Grattan, her dadB次元官网网址檚 Gick. When her parents married, her mom changed her name to Grattan Gick.

B次元官网网址淚 was probably super annoying, always asking why, why, why about everything,B次元官网网址� says Kristine. B次元官网网址淚 liked my name, I was proud of my name. But if my momB次元官网网址檚 name was Grattan Gick, why werenB次元官网网址檛 we?B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淚 had a disconnect B次元官网网址� my mom had feminist values but it didnB次元官网网址檛 get translated into my name.B次元官网网址�

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

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e really big on equality, and we thought, well weB次元官网网址檒l just keep our own names.B次元官网网址�

However, then they considered children.

B次元官网网址淗ow do you explain to future children, why do you have DaddyB次元官网网址檚 name or MommyB次元官网网址檚 name?B次元官网网址� 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.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to note he has more letters than I do, but percentage wise itB次元官网网址檚 pretty close,B次元官网网址� says Kristine with a grin.

Both she and Jason emphasize that although the combined name is right for them, they donB次元官网网址檛 judge what other people choose.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think any person takes what your identity will be as a married person lightly,B次元官网网址� says Kristine. B次元官网网址淚 have friends who took their husbandB次元官网网址檚 name, but they were still as thoughtful and intentional as our decision.B次元官网网址�

The couple considered keeping their current names for work, given that theyB次元官网网址檝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.

B次元官网网址淚t goes back to the dad basically selling his daughter B次元官网网址� now youB次元官网网址檙e his property and you have the same last name. Just because itB次元官网网址檚 the way it was always done and traditionally, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 make it right.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淚f you do it the B次元官网网址榥ormalB次元官网网址� way, youB次元官网网址檙e still losing that heritage,B次元官网网址� he says, noting that on a family tree, the womanB次元官网网址檚 birth name is normally in brackets, so her heritage disappears. But with a new, shared name, the womanB次元官网网址檚 and the manB次元官网网址檚 birth names would be in brackets.

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

B次元官网网址淢y co-workers said do it quickly so we can use you as an example,B次元官网网址� 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 B次元官网网址渋s way out there, so non-traditional,B次元官网网址� but she sees the opposite.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very traditional, having one name for a nuclear family.B次元官网网址�

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.

B次元官网网址淚t paints a picture of me as a monster, dominating, and creates the story and narrative that Jason doesnB次元官网网址檛 have a backboneB次元官网网址� so itB次元官网网址檚 painful to both of us.B次元官网网址�

A few people have said, B次元官网网址榳hy do you care, itB次元官网网址檚 just a name?B次元官网网址�

Kristine responds by turning the question around: B次元官网网址淲hy do you care, itB次元官网网址檚 just a name?B次元官网网址�

She sees the plan as an evolution.

B次元官网网址淏ecause my mom had already recognized there was a problem. She was one step in the evolution.B次元官网网址�

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 hadnB次元官网网址檛 done it before. But he doesnB次元官网网址檛 see himself as a groundbreaker. He says he and Kristine are both very aware of gender issues.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e never tried to follow the B次元官网网址榤en canB次元官网网址檛 cry,B次元官网网址� the stereotypical stuff. I donB次元官网网址檛 see myself as a trailblazer, I see it as what comes naturallyB次元官网网址�, what should be normal.B次元官网网址�

Kristine sums up their decision.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about people who have identities separate from each other but who are wanting to have something that represents the partnership we have together.B次元官网网址�