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Zoe Saldana's Husband Has Taken Her Name Like A Boss

Marco Perego became Mr Zoe Saldana when the pair married, and his unusual choice proves he's a total ledge

Despite modern marriage being a far cry from its transactional history where women were traded as property, there's one hangover from its origins that just won't die - the tradition for the bride to take the groom's name.

So when we heard that Zoe Saldana's husband Marco Saldana, née Perego, had opted to take his wife's name, we were darn impressed.

The Saldanas earlier this year (REX)
The Saldanas earlier this year (REX)

Though society - and Zoe herself - might be concerned the move 'emasculates' him, having the balls to go against the grain and drop his surname shows, in our minds, just what a mature and secure man Marco is.

"I tried to talk him out of it," Zoe told InStyle in an upcoming interview.

"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 wasn't phased, responding, according to his wife: "Zoe, I don't give a s**."

LOVE him.

And it shouldn't be a big deal. After all, as we creep towards equality, the choice by couples of which surname to go forward with if they want to have the same family name should be just that - a choice.

Yet surveys in both the UK and the US prove that thinking around this is still decidedly in the dark ages. A whopping 50 per cent of Americans believe it should be a legal requirement for a woman to take her husband's name.

There was a pushback in the 70s and 80s but for the most part modern women still find themselves taking their husband's name when they marry. Two thirds do this. And while many of them are happy and excited to do so, and there's nothing wrong with it at all, a large number do it simply because of expectation and because it's the easiest thing to do.

Things are heavily stacked towards women dropping their names and becoming Mrs Their Husband.

So to see a high profile couple opt for the opposite is inspiring. And perhaps it will help fast forward society to a place where couples make a genuine choice about which of their surnames to go with as their family name.

Marco and Zoe married in 2013 (REX)
Marco and Zoe married in 2013 (REX)

Zoe posted her thoughts on Facebook, saying:

"Why is it so surprising, shocking- eventful that a man would take his wife's surname? Women have never been asked if its ok for them to give up their names — why doesn’t that make the news?

"Men, you will not cease to exist by taking your partner’s surname. On the contrary — you’ll be remembered as a man who stood by change. I know our sons will respect and admire their father more because their father lead by example."

Of course he's not alone. Other famous men have taken their wives' names as part of their own - Jay Z or Sean Knowles-Carter being probably the highest profile. But it's rare and it's still news.

But if more men like Marco have the guts to go against the grain, perhaps in a few years it won't be at all. And if you take gender out of the equation, name changing becomes more about creating a family identity, rather than reminding the woman of a time when marriage essentially meant losing hers.

Also, Mr Saldana: SO HOT!

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