As with other questions of this type, it is best to ask your community. While the MathOverflow community is still deciding on whether to serve mathematicians by taking on such questions, originally it was (and many think still) intended exclusively for research level questions about mathematics. This question is not of that kind.

The reason to ask your community (advisors, fellow students, mentors) is that the results (which name will you choose for publishing) will most likely apply to it, and you will be judged by the community based on your choices and actions. (This is assuming you have no firm position on the issue, otherwise why ask?) The MathOverflow community is not that community, and will judge you differently if it judges you at all. (Please note that the current debate is about the question, not about the asker.)

I suggest asking a different community. There is an Association for Women in Mathematics, many of which (if not all) have maiden names. I bet their experience is more valuable than many of the responses you will get here. They may also be part of a community you will join. Hopefully others will provide other communities for which your question will be appropriate.

Good Luck, and congratulations.

Gerhard "My Maiden Name Is Paseman" Paseman, 2011.08.31

As with other questions of this type, it is best to ask your community. While the MathOverflow community is still deciding on whether to serve mathematicians by taking on such questions, originally it was (and many think still) intended exclusively for research level questions about mathematics. This question is not of that kind.

The reason to ask your community (advisors, fellow students, mentors) is that the results (which name will you choose for publishing) will most likely apply to it, and you will be judged by the community based on your choices and actions. (This is assuming you have no firm position on the issue, otherwise why ask?) The MathOverflow community is not that community, and will judge you differently if it judges you at all. (Please note that the current debate is about the question, not about the asker.)

I suggest asking a different community. There is an Association for Women in Mathematics, many of whose members (if not all) have maiden names. I bet their collective experience is more valuable than many of the responses you will get here. They may also be part of a community you will join (presuming you were a maiden and are intending to keep your gender). Hopefully others will provide other communities for which your question will be appropriate.

Good Luck, and congratulations.

Gerhard "My Maiden Name Is Paseman" Paseman, 2011.08.31