Of course it's up to individual women (it's almost inevitably the woman, not the man) whether they change their surname on marriage. But why on earth would you change your professional name, the name you're known by, your 'brand' if you like?

Ola did it. Then Karen Hauer. Now I see Aliona's changed her name as well. Just baffles me, is all.

Hauer was Karen's ex husband's name, - wikipedia does not giver her maiden name - but can see why she would ot want to keep the name of someone she now has no connection with.

Ola's maiden name was Grabowska - so correct pronunciation would be an issue
Bruce could not pronounce Ola correctly !!

Aliona - who knows - maybe she wants a change if she is moving Stateside.

I don't think it matters with these three. They're not huge movie stars with a real brand, clothing lines etc. Hauer was Karen ex-husband's name, so of course she changed it, and she's been tied to the Clifton family from the start of her stint on Strictly.

At least she didn't make it a double-barreled name, Huer-Clifton.
There's so many these days, some seem a bit over the top, Johnson-Thompson (nice girl) never fails to amuse.

But it's a sign of the times, decades ago all fire engines were called "Dennis," then they changed to "Seddon-Atkinson."

It is as the OP said, a matter of individual preference. Actors, singers, ballet dancers,
etc who have made their name using their maiden name, don't tend to change their professional names.

Ballroom dancers tend to change their names if they marry their dance partner - which they frequently do! I think it is sometimes they feel that is more convenient.

Like D-R above said, I too hate the idea of adopting a double barrelled name. Seems very pretentious to me. Either have one or the other.

Surely Ola has only ever been known as "Jordan" on Strictly, and she would not have been well known to the British public before that anyway.

I did not know that Aliona had changed her professional name. She was referred to as "Vilani" yesterday evening when appearing on Pointless, and as far as I know when she danced last week on Robin Windsor's Keep Dancing tour.

Pointless was recorded sometime ago, and if she was known as Vilani when the programmes for Robin's tour were printed, it seems feasible she would continue to use that name during the tour, whether or not she has decided to change it otherwise or elsewhere.

Hmm I can see why she changed that.. I am sure it is smashing in Polish but it doesn't ring so well in a British ear.

Bib1: She was well known in the ballroom world, though.

Bib2: The Radio Times retweeted her this morning, and her screen name is now 'Aliona Kavanagh',

The ultimate name-changer for me is Cheryl Tweedy-Cole-Versini-Whatsit (I think I've missed one in the middle there). Just pick a name and stick to it, woman - I can't keep up!

Ivana Legova never seemed to have any problems

Indeed or pick a husband (carefully and taking a little time over your choice) and stick with him.

Aliona kept the Vilani on Strictly, although she was already using Kavanagh personally, such as on Twitter. She was introduced as Aliona Vilani last year, not as Aliona Kavanagh. Now that she's left Strictly, it's probably the perfect time for her to change her name professionally as well as privately, if that's what she's chosen to do.

Aliona has had her married name on her twitter account for well over a year now, so no news there. In dancing circles she still comes up as Vilani. But if as she hopes she is going to cut down on the dancing and start a family what is wrong with her changing her name. Then both patents have the same surname.

In fact what is wrong with any woman changing her name to her new husbands name?

Nothing. But if you are freelance your name is your brand, so having built brand recognition you would need to think twice about potentialy having to rebuild your profile with a new brand.

I want Tuppence Middleton to marry Leigh Halfpenny just to see what happens. 😏

Aliona changed to her married name on Twitter when she got married so almost a couple of years ago (I know I've always followed her)

Her stage name has remained Aliona Vilani throughout this time her Twitter handle is still @alionavilani so presumably she is keeping her stage name for now.

it doesn't matter

It's widely thought that Chezza was desperate to get away from Tweedy as the name under which she was sentenced for assaulting the unfortunate lavatory assistant who tried to prevent her stealing a handful of free sweets (who on earth would want to eat sweets that had been sitting in that environment?!).

Lol. That would be funny if she went with his and was Tuppence Halfpenny. At least it would still be a unique stage name (as well as personal one)!

Nothing to stop someone keeping their maiden name for work/business or whatever, and adopting their husband's name for personal use. Alternatively they could just invent something totally different - it is legal to call yourself whatever you want. Writers, for example, often write under a different name, or even more than one different name if they write different genres.

Well it would be (a) small change.

No Indeed not. And wanting to create a separate brand is often the reason for doing that Katie Price/Jordan or Ruth Rendall/Barbara Vine (and I have a feeling neither of those was her actual name).

She's actually very traditional about it, she just marries a lot.

Well Naga's married name is Naga Haggar ( I love that). I think she uses it for personal use but not professional.

Laura Trott & Jason Kenny have just got married, Laura's name is registered as a brand so will be interesting if she now goes under Laura Trott Kenny as many sports stars do.

Aliona changed her name on her social media when she got married but professional she is still Aliona Vilani

Lilia also continues to use her maiden name professionally instead of Bennett