UK-based TikTok creator Izzy Trimborn drew widespread attention after posting that taking her fiancé’s surname would leave her with a name she and viewers found embarrassing and amusing.
Trimborn and her partner, James Inyet, were participating in a trend in which women on TikTok reveal whether they are excited to change their last name when they marry. In a post that has been viewed more than 2.4 million times, Trimborn replied to the prompt “Aren't you excited to take his last name?” by joking that adopting Inyet would make her “Izzy Inyet.” The clip attracted more than 11,700 comments from users reacting to the pun.
Viewers used the comment thread to imagine situations in which the name might prompt awkward or humorous moments, including being called out in public places. Many commenters praised the joke, with one saying it was “brilliant” and another calling it the best entry in the viral trend. Several users posted their own examples of potentially awkward married names, including combinations that would produce crude or comical results.
Other TikTok users shared similar stories. One creator named Hannah said that combining her first and middle names with her boyfriend’s surname would result in “Hannah Rose Hiscock.” A user named Niamh noted her boyfriend’s surname, Hornby, would invite jokes. Additional examples circulating on the platform included “Jo Kerr,” “Sophie Brophy” and “Millie Willy.” The trend has prompted a mixture of laughter and commentary about the practical implications of changing names.
The exchange comes amid broader shifts in how people in the United Kingdom approach surnames after marriage. A YouGov poll cited by media outlets found that only 35% of women aged 18 to 34 reported they would keep the tradition of adopting a spouse’s name, and that 51% of women across all age groups preferred the traditional route compared with 56% of men. The poll also found that just 27% of Britons viewed a man taking his spouse’s surname positively, while 47% said they neither felt positively nor negatively about the idea.
Official figures from the UK Deed Poll Office, published in November 2024, show that among people who opt to change their surname, the majority still choose to adopt their spouse’s name, while about 6% choose to double‑barrel. Those numbers indicate that, despite growing visibility for alternatives such as both partners keeping their original names or creating a double‑barrelled surname, taking a spouse’s name remains common among those who make a legal change.
The TikTok trend reflects a mix of humour and practical concern as people weigh personal identity, social expectations and potential awkwardness when considering surname changes. Trimborn’s clip is one of a number of viral posts in recent months that have used wordplay and real‑world examples to illustrate why some people are rethinking the tradition.