Exactly 6 months from today (basically, exactly to the hour that I’m writing this), my wedding will be coming to a close. It will have been a beautiful day full of emotions, fun, laughing, and special moments. But I’m not writing about my wedding right now. Instead, I’m writing about my name.
For some women, there isn’t a question of if they will change their name or not once they are married – it’s not a decision to be made but more of an obvious of course. For others, some of my friends included, it’s been a decision they’ve wrestled with, basically deciding to just not decide (aka do nothing, as changing your name can be quite a hassle). So, what about me? Will I change my name?
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.” – Juliet
Well Juliet, I think there is a lot in a name. For the last 31 years of my life, I have been Jenny Duquette. I am Jenny Duquette. That is who I am, that is my identity, that is who my friends and family and colleagues know me as. My many nicknames come from my name – Dukey, Dukes, jDukes, Sweaty Duquettey, etc. Who is Jenny Marie Norcott? Who is Jenny Marie Duquette-Norcott? Who is Jenny Marie Duquette Norcott? Who is Jenny Duquette Norcott?
I don’t think I can completely drop the Duquette name. It is too much of who I am. Too much of my identity, my pride, my family, my history. I know my identity will change as a married person (a wife!), but I feel like losing my name would make me feel like there was someone that I was and I am no longer. On the flip side, David and I are going to become a family, a unit together. I like the idea of being “The Norcotts” – a family together. For many women, they are their married name identities longer than their maiden names, which seems crazy to me.
So, perhaps we could just become Jenny & David Norquette? I like the ring to that…..
jd - To Infinity & Beyond! 
Are you serious about Norquette?
No Dan, I don’t think so..but it’s kinda fun to think, isn’t it? Maybe our nickname will be the Norquettes..
Haven’t heard from Jenny in ages. Congrats on the upcoming marriage. As to the name change, I think Norquette is a great compromise. That is, unless David changes to David Duquette. Keep us posted…And have a beautiful wedding!
The sweaty Norquettes? Sounds good to me! And David Duquette sounds too much like David Dukes.
David Duke.
I have friends who are unofficially the Schicthers. Her last name is Richter; his, Schamel. I will now always refer to you both as the Norquettes!
To update, I went with Jenny Duquette Norcott (two last names, no hyphen). The whole legal name change is almost complete – of course it’s having a hard time moving through the bureaucracy despite me requesting it 3-4 times. Duquette will stay in my legal name, but I imagine I will mostly go by Jenny Norcott for simplicity sake. I’m still getting used to it and just interchangably go by Jenny Duquette Norcott, Jenny Duquette, and Jenny Norcott. Still very much getting used to it!