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Actually, my wife, her sisters, and a great number of my female co-graduates chose to keep their own surnames. The more so in my wife's case as her first name 'Barbie' would make her a laughingstock in her public job as a DA when combined with my last name. When doing security in Social Security offices, I noted many newlywed brides, often from other countries, coming in to change their names....and not looking particularly happy about it-having given up all else for love!; at which point I would intervene: humorously explain my wife's predicament and explain that in California a lady's name change is not required. Many ladies had come from cultures where wives are a form of chattel ; it was cool to see the light in their eyes(aha!) in their new land. My manager, herself from a third world country, asked one day what exactly I was doing, and upon my explanation, very coolly said 'Keep doing that". Quite often the ladies would reconsider: either keeping the name or hyphenating both spouse's names. Moreover the case at that time for a man to change his name required a court appearance whereas a woman could merely show a checking account & marriage license with a new name. This has since been altered in California

Either party (husband or wife) changing the middle and/or last name

The California Name Equality Act of 2007 (external pdf link) provides an option for one or both parties to the marriage to change the middle name and/or last name. So, you can opt to just change your middle name, while leaving your last name untouched. Or change both your middle and surname in one fell swoop. While the choice is yours (and quite flexible to boot), the decision must be made at the time you apply for your marriage license application. Specify the new name(s) you intend to take after marriage on the provided form

For once men are now equal to their better halves !!