Why did Leia keep Organa as her last name?

Question

I have been re-watching the Star Wars movies as to get ready for the Last Jedi and in the Force Awakens, Leia is introduced as Leia Organa.

Is there a reason as why she chose to keep the Organa last name and not taking the Skywalker one?

I know she has been adopted and raised by Bail and Breha Organa but I wonder if her decisions was only based on her feelings or for other reasons? The Organa name has probably more impact in politics than the Skywalker one but there must be a real reason.

Jack B Nimble · Accepted Answer

In Empire's End: Aftermath, there is this sentence.

The child's name is Ben, and he takes his father's last name, even as Leia keeps only her own family name, Organa.

Even though she is sister to Luke Skywalker, she considers Organa to be her family name, as they raised her and loved her.

In Bloodline (Star Wars) she says this after it is publicly revealed that Darth Vader was her father.

"Only my birth father" she insisted. "My real father - the only father I ever knew or wanted - was Bail Organa of Alderaan.

Also, while she loves Luke, she isn't much of a fan of Darth Vader, so I'm sure there was no sentimental feeling to taking the Skywalker name. Again from Bloodline:

He made me watch my planet die. He froze Han in carbonite and sold him to Jabba the Hutt. He cut off my brother's hand and nearly took his life. And he tortured me, Ransolm. He tortured me until I screamed and shook and thought I would die just from the pain alone. Did you bother to ask yourself how it might feel, to realize the person who'd done all that to you was your father? Can you imagine how terrible it is to realize all you'll ever know of your birth father is how much he enjoyed making you suffer?

Your question is specifically about her not taking the Skywalker name, but it could easily be inferred that she also did not take Solo's name (if taking the name of a spouse is even normal in the Star Wars universe) on the merits of her already established Organa name in politics and honoring her adopted parents.

Rusty_Clanker · Answer

Well for one the reason Leia was raised by Senator Organa was because Senator Amidala (Leia’s mother) was very close with the Organa and he helped the Republic as well as the Rebellion after the fall of the Republic.
As of Leia keeping the name “Organa” it was most likely for her own safety. Remember Kylo Ren is a Skywalker and is well aware of her mother. Because of this obvious knowledge of the name Skywalker it is likely that leaders of the empire such as Admirals, Moffs, and Generals, or more accurately Supreme Leader Snoke would attack the rebellion forces at first notice of the name Skywalker.

Why did Leia keep Organa as her last name?

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