Double-barrelled surnames are becoming increasingly common as a result of women wanting to retain independence after marriage, the Deed Poll Office has said.

       Brides-to-be, particularly those who are breadwinners in their household, are keeping their maiden name in growing numbers when they are married, according to name change law experts.

       Deed Poll Office, a firm of paralegals specialising in the change of name deeds, said it had seen a 30 per cent increase in requests from people who want to include their maiden name when they tie the knot and change their name.

       This increase happened between 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic.

       The firm suggested this could be because couples whose weddings had been delayed were keen to use the free time they had during lockdowns to get documents with their new names in order.

       The trend comes as celebrities, such as Nicola Peltz, opt to keep their maiden name when they got married. Ms Peltz is now known as Nicola Peltz Beckham, after marrying Brooklyn Beckham.

       A senior deed poll adviser from Deed Poll Office said: “Double barrelling has always been a good trend going on for years and years. In the last five to 10 years, it has increased more as people want to keep their maiden names.

       “During lockdown, we saw a 30 per cent increase in people applying for double-barrelled names. It is the biggest increase we have seen before. Same-sex partners are doing it too.

       “Each year, there are around 5,000 double-barrel name applications among the 40,000 applications we receive in total.

       “Traditionally, you take your husband’s name, but civil partnerships are coming in and women are more independent now, working, can earn more than their partner. So independence decides if they want to take their partner’s name.

       “If parents split up, the parents sometimes double-barrel the names if they live at different addresses, to keep the connection.”

       Children of the Hollywood actors Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have the double-barreled surname “Jolie-Pitt”.

       ‘Meshing’

       Putting maiden names as middle names is another trend that is emerging, according to Deed Poll Office.

       So-called “meshing” - combining surnames when you get married - is also in vogue, the firm said. Dawn Porter, the television presenter, changed her name to Dawn O’Porter when she married the comedian and actor Chris O’Dowd.

       Bernadette Chapman, from the UK Alliance of Wedding Planners, said she knew of a groom who took his wife’s surname because her family were prominent landowners and business owners, and this would ensure the name continued through their children.