I’m baac-aack! Hey Triple B, L’Oreal here with my second Triple B post. What’s in a new last name?

Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

Kim Kardashian West.

Kandi Burruss Tucker.

Back when our mothers got married, they typically took our fathers’ last names. But nowadays, brides have more options than ever: hyphenate, use both names, keep their maiden name or the couple adopts a new last name altogether.

And while I may not be a celebrity like the lovely ladies mentioned above, I know all about the importance of using your name as your brand. As a writer, my byline is my brand. Before Jeff and I got married, I thought long and hard about what I wanted to use as my last name. Sure, I’d won awards as a journalist under my maiden name. But I also wanted to honor our new life together as man and wife. Call me old-fashioned, but it’s important to me that our family (whenever we have children) has the same last name.

In an effort to appease both my personal preference and professional mentality, I decided to use L’Oreal Thompson Payton as my byline and legally change my last name to Payton. Interestingly enough, I took a quiz on MissNowMrs.com that suggested I use both last names: “Perfect for keeping your professional identity, two names sans hyphen allows you to keep your maiden name and take your spouse’s without being tied to using both names at every introduction!”

It’s simply not fair to expect a woman who’s accomplished so much before marriage to simply do away with her last name. This isn’t the 1800s anymore, people. Women are no longer property and deserve to have their greatness recognized. Whatever you decide (if you decide to change your name at all) is entirely up to you.

Of course, you should discuss the matter with your significant other. After all, important elements of marriage (or any relationship, really) are communication, respect and compromise. But, at the end of the day, it’s your name and your spouse should hopefully support your decision.

Now, if I could just get used to signing Payton…

Are you planning to change your last name after marriage? Let me know in the comments!

An aspiring Disney princess, L’Oreal Thompson Payton said “I do” to her Prince Charming in November 2014. When she’s not busy writing, L’Oreal enjoys reading, dancing to Beyoncé and devouring delicious cupcakes. Follow more of her newlywed and everyday adventures on Instagram and her blog, LTintheCity.com.