Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Is it ever ok to hyphenate?

36 replies

MeantToStopAtTwo · 29/05/2011 10:27

Are there any acceptable hyphenated names? Or are hyphens always a no-no?

How about Marie-Claire?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
babybear5 · 29/05/2011 16:58

all four of my girls have hyphenated names and not one of them is a country and western or foreign name. Of course i am biast but i like them..eg my youngest Karla-Linzi. My little lad's name is not hyphenated tho as i dont think it works for boys

JamieAgain · 29/05/2011 16:52

Not IMO

oohlaalaa · 29/05/2011 16:10

I like them, especially Sally-Ann, Anne-Marie, Mary-Lou, and Katie-Ann.

I also like Marie-Claire, but prefer Claire-Marie.

I have previously been told by mumsnet jury that they are rather naff though.

Youcantaffordme · 29/05/2011 14:09

I think it's often a Catholic traditional thing, since it usually involves a version of Mary - even with boys as you get Jean-Marie. Of course Jean is almost always hyphenated with another name in France: Jean-Claude, Jean-Paul etc. So I do see it as "respectable" with certain names, but not when it seems random.

ManicAnnie · 29/05/2011 13:55

I like Anna-Maria, Maria-Luisa etc. The Spanish and Italian usage.

Otherwise hyphenated names all tend to have the 'Somthing-Mae' effect on me.

squeak2392 · 29/05/2011 13:33

I don't mind them on established names, as have been mentioned here, but I do think they're unnecessary. I have Mary Jane on my list, without the hyphen, and I would have thought that Mary Jane is such a well known name that anyone reading it would assume the two were together.
I don't think the same works for Marie Claire (maybe just because I think they work well on a first name, middle name basis thoguh), but you still don't need a hyphen.

However, some hyphen names do sound very country-and-western, and should be avoided, imo.

P.S. Marie Claire just makes me think of the magazine, and I don't even read it.

sasamaxx · 29/05/2011 10:35

I think they are fine as long as they don't sound too country and western, so Anne-Marie or Marie-Claire or Marie-Anne are fine but Sammy-Jo or Sue-Ellen are definitely not

Cattleprod · 29/05/2011 10:34

The hyphen is unnecessary imo - just call her Marie Claire.

meditrina · 29/05/2011 10:32

I have to say it's not something I'd go for, but I do think there are some names which have become well established, like Mary-Rose, Anne-Marie, Mary-Lou and Marie-Claire. There is also a set of American names, like Billie-Jo or Mary-Jo.

It doesn't really work for boys, with the possible exception of John-Paul.

Hassled · 29/05/2011 10:29

I think no.
Mare-Claire is a) French and b) a magazine.

bigbadbarry · 29/05/2011 10:28

My opinion is that a hyphen between two separate names is ok is a bit country and western: Marie-Claire, Ann-Marie, Jo-Beth, Suzy-Lou. Hyphens between syllables is all wrong.