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Baby names

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Original poster

Why do people double barrel first names?

137 replies

FlawlessFuckup · 27/01/2018 22:29

Inspired by the ‘somebody explain Nando’s to me’ thread to find answers to my own personal mysteries.

I just don’t get it. I think hyphens look ugly, and most people only get called the first half of the name anyway, Sofia for Sofia-Rose etc.

I personally feel hyphenating names with a made up misspelt half-name like -Mai is odd. But I find it even odder when people hyphenate two ‘normal’ names, that have no obvious connection to each other, like Sofia-Rose, to use the same example.

I just don’t get it. Could someone explain it to me? Why would/did you do this? Is it because you couldn’t decide between two names, or another reason?

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stopbeingadramallama · 27/01/2018 22:57

I hate it.

Callamia · 27/01/2018 22:56

The only person I know with a hyphenated name is a fairly posh Sarah-Jane.

SingaSong12 · 27/01/2018 22:53

My parents did it to me - not sure why. I think it's pretty but wish they hadn't as it's a bit of a pain in forms and some online forms won't accept the hyphen.

MrsHathaway · 27/01/2018 22:52

Eggs That's really interesting! Thank you for sharing.

The people I know who have done it are all RC and several are also French. They are as likely to double-barrel boys as girls. There is a strong Catholic tradition here (within commute of Liverpool and with 75 years of Polish immigration). So I would think Catholic before I thought "council" - but what a horribly dismissive way to categorise people the latter is.

EggsonHeads · 27/01/2018 22:51

@Dullandold that was in reference to dotcottondotcom

DullAndOld · 27/01/2018 22:49

" Both names are normal names not 'council' names if that makes a difference."

that's nice...Hmm

Ummmmgogo · 27/01/2018 22:49

@eggs that is the cutest idea ever! I wish I'd thought of it when I was pregnant with my first 😂

op. this is not a real mystery. you think hyphens look bad others think thhey are nice. that's it really.

EggsonHeads · 27/01/2018 22:45

We did it. The first names are the ones we call our children and the second names are shared. Like Marie Antoinette but the other way around with a hyphen. We thought that it would provide our child with a second option if they wanted it. It also means that we have a collective name for them e.g. Think instead of saying the children we say the Vincents. We did it with our first because we couldn't decide on a bane and we just did it again with our second. I've seen it a lot so it never occurred to me not to do it. Both names are normal names not 'council' names if that makes a difference. So like Hugo-Tarquin Atticus Jones and Owen-Tarquin Atticus Jones*. We call them Hugo and Owen (or nickname of Hugo and Owen) but The Tarquins collectively. So here come the Tarquins or Battle cry of the Tarquins. I guess it's a bit weird and a bit funny but we are a bit weird and like to make fun of ourselves so there you go.

*Not their real names obviously.

wheresthel1ght · 27/01/2018 22:43

Because we chose to and our kid our choice frankly. Dd is either known as her nickname from being a baby or by her full double barrelled name. She loves it and gets very cross with people who call her by just the first bit of her name.

DullAndOld · 27/01/2018 22:40

because they like the sound of it I suppose....
I knew a Lesley Anne and a Tina Jane years ago so it's not a new thing.

greendale17 · 27/01/2018 22:38

I hated it. It sounded so , council, for lack of a better word.

^This

DotCottonDotCom · 27/01/2018 22:32

Mine was double barrelled and I recently legally changed it to my nickname . I hated it. It sounded so , council, for lack of a better word.
My parents couldn’t decide what they liked best.