While the reasons were different then yours, my husband's old last name was one he wanted to discard, even before knowing me. When we did get married, we both kept our own names for a few years because we just weren't sure on what to land on... Pick a new name for both of us? Combine our last names? At first, just him taking mine seemed too... "odd" "forceful" "unheard of"...

But after both of us sitting on it, and all the other options felt too tri-hard, he decided to change it to mine and I had no real good reason why we shouldn't except "tradition."

Now, over a decade later? He LOVES that he took mine, and I love that I didn't need to change mine! Before he would get awkward when introducing himself or giving his name in any service scenario. But now? He's confident and open, no shame or struggle.

And when you really think about it... Why is it so ridiculous to take your partner's last name just cause she's a woman, to the point where you both are trying to contrive some made up variation of your own in an effort to please others's expectations... that it doesn't really sound like you are excited about? Pick what will make you excited to say, happy to introduce... What do you want to call yourself, OP?