As far as online “brand” goes, Mysticaldaze is what I’ve been using, so my actual name isn’t really a factor in this aspect, but as far as the corporate world is concerned, I think it does matter.

My “maiden” name (don’t even get me STARTED on that term) is a man’s name. It was foisted upon me at birth. I had no say in it.

When I took my ex-husband’s name years and years ago, it was because I chose to. I felt no pressure to do so–I liked his family, I liked his name, and it was more interesting (and less common) than my father’s surname.

I still have it, even though I am married to someone else now. I doubt I’ll change it since it’s been my name all though my professional career.

It’s my choice. Freedom of choice, in addition to equality, is what feminism is all about, in my opinion. Keep your name if you want, take your husband’s name if you want, have your husband take yours if you want, make up an entirely new name if you want.

At that same time in my life, I was transitioning from grad school (and a whole knowledge network of people) to professional life. Seven years later I still need to make sure all those connections from grad school can still find me via search.

It would also be nice if my professional contacts now could find my “old self” (and the work I did under that name) by search, rather than by me having to hyphenate or self promote.

I never thought about blaming the Google engineers… but I do think Facebook is a bit obnoxious in that sense. I’ve noticed that girls I went to high school with have hyphenated just on Facebook so people recognize them. Kind of an annoying practice.

I would never have thought to pin it on the system. I can’t imagine (yet) an engine that, say, gives results for my NEW name when you search my OLD name.

Here’s a divisive question – are search engines, or the engineers that built that system, sexist in this way? Consciously or unconsciously?

Thanks for mentioning that, Ash– I was getting nervous that I was the only one thinking this kind of thing.

I wouldn’t want Dude to think that SEO was more important than my union with him… but come on, I’ve done good work under this name. Authors do it…

Since my work is but a face of me, I also wouldn’t mind using my own last name professionally like Erica mentioned.

Would be cool if search systems were somehow smart enough to know that Ash Huang and Ash Whateverhisnamewillbe are one person, and have search results reflect that. Google’s supposed to be user-centric anyway, isn’t it? I know it’s not that simple, but it seems like it could be a logical next step in sorting how people are searched for in general vs. information or products.