Portia de Rossi wants to adopt Ellen DeGeneres’ last name

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Portia de Rossi has petitioned the Los Angeles County Superior Court to change her last name legally from ‘de Rossi’ to ‘DeGeneres.’

The actress married Ellen DeGeneres on Aug. 16, 2008, during the period when same-sex marriages were legal and licenses were being issued. The request for the name Portia Lee James DeGeneres was filed Friday, though the document made available by E! Online was signed by De Rossi in March. De Rossi, born Amanda Lee Rogers, first changed her name at age 15, she told the Advocate last year.

For those of us who must get celebrity names right on a regular basis, Portia’s decision is nothing short of a blessing -- because really, it just sounds like it should be spelled ‘di Rossi.’ (That opinion, incidentally, from an expert on pain-in-the-rear last names, both famous and civilian.)

Weigh in on married names if you so desire, in comments and in the poll below.

-- Christie D’Zurilla