It is a widely held misconception that in the UK only a wife can take her husband's name after marriage. The reality is quite different: there is no law in the UK that requires either spouse to take or keep any particular surname, and a husband can take his wife's surname just as easily as a wife can take her husband's. The marriage certificate works equally in both directions — and where a deed poll is needed, it is needed in the same way regardless of gender.
If you simply want to take your wife's existing surname — the name she holds on her birth certificate — then your marriage certificate is usually sufficient evidence for most organisations. The Passport Office, DVLA, and most banks will process the name change on the strength of the certificate alone. You present it, they update their records, and you can apply for new documents in your wife's surname. This is legally identical to the process a wife uses to take her husband's name.
If you want something more complex — a hyphenated name combining both surnames, your wife's name in combination with your own, or a completely new shared surname — then a deed poll is required. A deed poll is also the right document if you want to change your first name at the same time, or if you want to be certain you have a single clean document to present to every organisation rather than relying on the marriage certificate and explaining the setup.
Despite being entirely legal and increasingly common, some men find that front-line staff at banks or government departments are unfamiliar with the process, since it is less commonly encountered than the reverse. If you experience any difficulty, the same rules apply: escalate to a supervisor, cite the marriage certificate or deed poll, and if necessary put your request in writing. The law is clear — you have every right to take your wife's name.
This service generates a deed poll for £14.99, downloadable instantly as a print-ready PDF. If a deed poll is what you need, the process takes minutes. If your marriage certificate is sufficient, you may not need a deed poll at all — but it is a useful backup if you encounter any administrative resistance.