Double barrelled first names

[Flossiebelle]

Do you think they are just too long?

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

I don't think it's the length that is the problem, it's the concept.

[ShowOfBloodyStumps]

I don't have strong feelings about them either way though.

[hocuspontas]

I am always in a dilemma when addressing christmas cards to families with double-barrelled children. Some people capitalise the name after the hyphen and some don't and I hate getting it wrong!

[Flossiebelle]

Thanks ShowOfBloodyStumps
Just wondering and a little bored. My daughter has got a double barelled middle name, which since born I have often wondered whether it should have been used as her first name.

[jellybeans]

It's not my cup of tea but each to their own. However, they nearly always end up being called just the first part after a year or so.

[Bumbleconfusus]

My DD has a double barrelled first name, as does DH and my brother, MNers all said that it would be shortened, but I didn't think it would... but it has after only 8 months. I still love her name and I like that it is double-barelled, and as we have an incredibly common one syllable surname I think its good in her case.

[cory]

Common in other countries, often regarded as chavvy/a bit off here. No idea why, I grew up in one of the many countries where it is perfectly normal.

[sparkle12mar08]

Don't like them, sorry. Agree with SOBS and cory, the concept is still quite alien here in the UK, and regarded as common.

[mathanxiety]

One of the DDs has one, and it got shortened for a while but she now uses it in full. It's a French name (two names) but the idea is very French too, although popular in Ireland also.

[Flossiebelle]

I really do like the idea of my dd potentially using hers as her first name but for me it is the overall length of the name. I am a teacher and am thinking about how long the name would be when she is learning to write and spell her name.

[anonymosity]

i have a double first name. I like it very much, BUT it has been an enormous pain in the arse my entire life.

I couldn't write it properly for ages as a child (11 letters). Many people tried (and still try) to shorten it which drives me nuts. People get it wrong ALL the time, mixing up one part with an entirely different name, or making the whole thing an entirely different two names.

Suffice to say, I wouldn't inflict it on anyone (though as I said in the other post on this, like it when they're in French) and have given my two children V short, one or two syllable names.

[seaturtle]

I have no strong opinions against them. I wouldn't have picked one for my child's name but if I did, I probably would have left out the hyphen. I know a Sarahjane, and I like the way that's put together rather than Sarah-Jane or Sarah Jane, because I think Sarahjane looks more like a complete name than the other two. But that's just a personal quirk of mine.

[Expecting06112010]

im not overly keen, a bit hillbilly!

[ValiumSkeleton]

i do. I know a couple of Sophie-Elles and SOphie-Mays and Ellie_mays and so on and their mothers aren't happy when people just call them Sophie or Ellie. I know one child who is emily-rose (have changed one name) adn it's a mouthful and the child is ten and the mother still calls her by both names.

i am being unreasonable but I just think, choose one fgs!

[ValiumSkeleton]

Mathanxiety, not just backtracking because I have read your post! but yes, some names like Marie-Claire or Anne-Charlotte or Anne-Marie just seem to work better together.

It is the modern permutations and combos that sound like somebody couldn't decide.

[chipmonkey]

I like then so long as it's not two long names. I know a boy with two names, both of which are two-syllable and had to agree with a mutual friend when she muttered "fgs, pick a name"

[Flossiebelle]

Thanks for your opinions. My DD middle name is Felicity-Rose, which I personally love (after a family member)but deep down I know it is way too long to use as a first name.

[meadowlarks]

I think they're awful, personally.

[mathanxiety]

ValiumSkeleton, that's the kind of name I'm thinking of. OTOH, Chelsea-Rae and the like are not my cup of tea.

[Flossiebelle]

MaryZ - I totally agree with you. Fortunately, we do have a very short surname and DD has got a short first name, so felt that we could get away with either giving her two middle names or one longer middle name.

[Wilts]

I have a doubled- barrelled name, it is never shortened and never was when I was younger either.

[SirBoobAlot]

I have a double barrelled first name; its shortened by people who knew me when I was younger, but I decided I preferred the full version a few years back, and those that have met me since use my full name. I like it, although -May/Mae has got very common recently. Mine is -Maye, so slightly different at least

I'll answer to either.

[phipps]

I think the parents are a bit precious if they give a double barrelled first name but then I think that about Annabelle too. Very twee.

[Sidge]

I have a 1970s double-barrelled first name and have only ever been called my name in full when being told off by my mum! And on my passport.

I met a baby the other day that has a double-barrelled first name and a double-barrelled surname. Too Much I think.