11 Hollywood Men Who Broke Tradition And Took Their Wife's Last Name

    John and Yoko Ono Lennon were the first!

    A lot of people consider it "the norm" for women who marry men to take their husband's last name. That expectation stretches to Hollywood, too.

    Some women, such as Sarah Michelle Gellar, get their name changed legally but keep their stage name the same. Others, like Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin), use their husband's last name both personally and professionally.

    Sometimes, however, the couples decide to flip the script and combine their last names, or the husband takes his wife's last name.

    Here are 11 famous men who broke tradition and took their wife's last name:

    1. Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz got married in 2022.

    They combined their last names, becoming Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham.

    2. Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego tied the knot in 2013.

    Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego Saldaña

    He took her last name, becoming Marco Perego Saldaña.

    Marco Perego Saldaña and Zoe Saldaña

    “I told him, ‘If you use my name, you’re going to be emasculated by your community of artists, by your Latin community of men, by the world.’ But Marco looks up at me and says [imitating his Italian accent], ‘Ah, Zoe, I don’t give a sheet,'" she told InStyle.

    Zoe Saldaña and Marco Perego Saldaña

    3. Carlos Pena Jr. and Alexa Vega got married in 2014.

    Carlos and Alexa PenaVega

    They decided to combine their last names, becoming Carlos and Alexa PenaVega.

    "We knew we always wanted it to be PenaVega," Carlos told On with Mario Lopez.

    Alexa and Carlos PenaVega

    4. Lorenzo Lamas and Shawna Craig were married from 2011-2018.

    Shawna Craig and Lorenzo Lamas

    He hyphenated their last names, becoming Lorenzo Lamas-Craig. Shawna kept her own last name.

    Shawna Craig and Lorenzo Lamas-Craig

    Lorenzo's decision was motivated by the fact that his ex-wife, Shauna Sand, decided to not to change her legal name and remained Shauna Lamas.

    Shauna Sand

    "His new wife didn't want to be called Shawna Lamas for obvious reasons," Don Gibble, Lorenzo's manager, told E!.

    Shawna Craig and Lorenzo Lamas-Craig

    5. John Lennon and Yoko Ono wed in 1969.

    Yoko Ono and John Lennon

    They took each other's last names, becoming John and Yoko Ono Lennon.

    Yoko and John Oko Lennon

    "It gives us nine ‘O’s between us, which is good luck. Ten would not be good luck," John told The Beatles Off the Record.

    John and Yoko Ono Lennon

    6. Beyoncé and Jay-Z got married in 2008.

    Jay-Z and Beyonce

    Jay-Z reportedly changed his name at the same time she did, and they became Shawn and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter.

    7. Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox were married from 2006-2018.

    Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox

    As a gift for their two-year anniversary, he legally took her last name, making him Jon Cox Mohr [Jay is a nickname].

    Jay Mohr and Nikki Cox

    8. Jack Gillis and Meg White were married from 1996-2000.

    Meg and Jack White

    Jack took her name, becoming Jack White.

    Meg and Jack White

    They also shared their name with their band — the White Stripes.

    Meg and Jack White of The White Stripes performing onstage.

    As the White Stripes, they claimed to be siblings and invented a detailed backstory. They kept up the charade after their divorce and after the marriage certificate was leaked.

    Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes.

    9. Former Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villar Jr. and Corina Raigosa were married from 1987-2007.

    Corina Raigosa and Antonio Villar

    He combined their last names, becoming Antonio Villaraigosa. She remained Corina Raigosa.

    Corina Raigosa and Antonio Villar

    10. Todd Baechle (from The Faint) and Orenda Fink (from Azure Ray) tied the knot in 2005.

    He took her last name, becoming Todd Fink.

    They also formed a band together — CLOSENESS.

    11. And finally, director Ernest Brown Jr. and talent manager Elaine Lively (aka Blake Lively's parents) got married in 1979.

    Blake Lively with her parents

    He took her last name, becoming Ernie Lively.

    Blake Lively with her parents

    Blake named her beverage company Betty Buzz after Ernie's mom and sister because she "wanted any success to be in a name that was meaningful to him," but "Ernie would not be the best name for a mixer."

    Blake Lively with her parents.