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Ok, here’s the whole stuff. I’m a girl and an only child, so when I’ll be dead (hopefully in a looooong time lol) the only people bearing my surname will be distant cousins.
I would like to “remember” my surname in the name of one of my children. I still have plenty of time since I’m not married, but I would like to know your opinions.

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I know I could give my children both names (mine and my husband’s), because some ancestors did it. But today people could think we’re divorced or not married, which would be a huge problem because I’m from a very conservative religious background.

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So, my surname is Sztern, but only the “z” only came recently, as a “polonization”. Before the 1850’s the name was Stern. It means “star” in German and Yiddish.

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What’s the better idea? Giving “Stern” as a middle name to one of my sons? Or, since Polish surnames can be feminised, “Sterna” to one of my daughters?
If you prefer Sterna, would you write it Sterna (simpler and the “good” spelling), or Sternah (more feminine)?

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Oh yeah, Sztern and Stern are pronounced like “steak” but with “rn” instead of “k”. You can also say “shtern”, with the “e” like steak again. Not steern or sturn…