I was tossing around the idea of outright ditching the whole ending exchange. “Who are you? Rey who?” That nonsense. I honestly think the movie would be stronger with that line just cut outright. For one, it allows the epilogue at the Lars homestead to play out without any dialogue at all - whether you love or hate the line (I find it massively cringey myself), I think it would make for a really beautiful ending to the saga to do it entirely with the iconic visuals and the John Williams score.

Also, what’s the theme that’s portrayed by Rey calling herself “Skywalker”? The lesson of the film? The moral of the story? “Rather than be defined by the sins of your family, you can just pretend to not be related to them”? Does anyone find that lesson powerful? Let alone poignant?

The other benefit would be how much more depth could then be applied to the title of the film. If she calls herself “Rey Skywalker,” then “the rise of Skywalker” seems to refer pretty literally to Rey assuming the family name. If, however, Rey doesn’t outright claim to be a Skywalker, then there are so many other possible interpretations that could be made, such as:

The galaxy “rising” up in the name of Skywalker
Ben Solo-Skywalker rising above the Darkness and choosing the Light
Ben Solo-Skywalker ascending to Jedi Heaven
Rey choosing to follow in the Skywalker legacy (visually, not audibly, represented by them appearing to her)
The spirit, the metaphorical soul of Luke Skywalker rising above the Emperor’s darkness.
What the legend of “Skywalker” means to the galaxy
etc. etc. etc.

There are so many new and wonderful interpretations that could be made. It would be beautiful, and insightful, and poetic. It would stick in the mind as something worth pondering. “What does “Rise of Skywalker” truly mean?”

Or Rey can just say “I’m a Skywalker!!” and trot along into the sunset. That’s deep too.