Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

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

Original poster

Double (not necessarily hyphenated) names?

40 replies

MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 15:18

Anna Lucia, Anna Caterina, Anna Gloria, Anna Luisa, Clara Luisa etc...

Yay or nay?

TIA :)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Original poster
MariaMadita · 21/06/2018 18:38

It's the nouveau riche, delusions of grandeur type of association Hmm thanks for the explanation.

If you are relaxed about it, then that's good.

Pretty relaxed, I guess? Blush

OP posts:
LuMarie · 21/06/2018 16:35

I feel like the the LO could decide (once they're old enough) whether they want to correct people or not?

Perfect:) If you are happy with that then there's no problem. I was thinking along the lines of, will you end up with the name getting lost and you being upset. If you are relaxed about it, then that's good.

HarryLovesDraco · 21/06/2018 14:17

It's the nouveau riche, delusions of grandeur type of association. It's a very British issues!

Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 21:00

I did, Mike.
He seemed a bit naughty, Violet Elizabeth slightly manipulative and her mother is incredibly rude...

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 20/06/2018 20:41

Google it.
Marianna, Julianna and Lilianna are too flouncy.

Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 20:29

Ah, thanks, Mike

And she was... Pretentious? So Violet Elizabeth is meant to be a stereotypically 'prissy' name?

OP posts:
Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 20:27

Have you considered Marianna, Julianna, Lillianna or anne ending?

Not really, tbh. Blush hm... Maybe? I'll have to run that by DH. (Who really doesn't like double names for boys, btw...)

It's not without a hyphen or joining the first and second, so there will be a lot of either only using the first word or and having to correct. Not everyone remembers name corrections.

I feel like the the LO could decide (once they're old enough) whether they want to correct people or not?

It seems very formal to have two names with a pause between them.

There wouldn't be a pause. :)

The full name might sound like AnnaChiara Severina Surname, e.g.

Thanks :)

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 20/06/2018 20:22

Just William is a children's book. Violet Elizabeth Bott was his neighbour.

Chocmallows · 20/06/2018 20:21

In the UK it's not unusual for full names to be jokingly said when 'telling off', e.g. raher than "Marie stop that" it's "Marie Elizabeth Surname stop that". It seems very formal to have two names with a pause between them.

LuMarie · 20/06/2018 20:21

All sorts of challenges on paperwork for different countries. Anything after the first word is considered "middle name" in some places/forms and two names written in first name space on form may be questioned or delayed for a confirmation it is not a mistake/find a way to enter it into a computer system.

How is clear on reading which is the section you want as first, which is middle and therefore not to be said? It's not without a hyphen or joining the first and second, so there will be a lot of either only using the first word or and having to correct. Not everyone remembers name corrections.

Also not a fan of hyphens as pp said, plus all the over the top dramatic names can sound pretentious. Asking someone to pronounce very lengthy names has a feeling of importance about it when the next kid is called one a syllable name.

School roll call...

"Violet Elizabeth Luisiana Mckenzie Macaroni?" Here

"Bob?" Yeah I'm still here

Maybe join the first two to be one word. I know Annelina, Annaluisa etc. Will be easier on forms, no confusion on which name is officially which and will be sure it is said properly for the rest of time.

Or accept that you are choosing what will be in practice multiple middle names and a lot of people will drop to just the first name.

Chocmallows · 20/06/2018 20:18

Have you considered Marianna, Julianna, Lillianna or anne ending?

A compromise, easier to say, still two names in one?

Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 20:17

Pretty much, although the social stigma is the opposite of the hyphen problem ie it's a bit nouveau/snob/pretentious. Think Violet Elizabeth Bott from just William

I feel like I should understand this sentence but I unfortunately don't. Someone that changed their name from William to Violet Elizabeth? I mean, there is a certain social stigma, but...? Confused

OP posts:
junebirthdaygirl · 20/06/2018 20:16

Wouldn't look out of place in lreland either although its not a trend at the moment here.
Typical ones would be
Marie Therese
Mary Teresa
Anna Rose
Donna Rose
Julia Anne
Mary Kate
Sarah Louise
Anne Louise
Dorothy Anne
Sheila Anne

ifigoup · 20/06/2018 20:11

I agree it looks nicer without the hyphen. People I know with double names, with or without hyphens, are:
Dawn Marie
Mary Jane
Anna Louise
Simon Peter
Amy Jo
Vicki Jo
Sally Anne
Sarah Jane
Bonita Ann
Ulrike Claire
Lynn Marie
John Mark
John Paul

I like them in general, but I have a pet peeve for the Archie-Lee type names mentioned by a previous poster, especially where the surname is also hyphenated.

MikeUniformMike · 20/06/2018 20:08

Ivy May. Oh dear.

expatinscotland · 20/06/2018 20:06

My dad has a double name but his parents were Mexican.

HarryLovesDraco · 20/06/2018 20:02

Pretty much, although the social stigma is the opposite of the hyphen problem ie it's a bit nouveau/snob/pretentious. Think Violet Elizabeth Bott from just William.

I think Anna Luisa and Anna Sofia names work nicely but Anna caterina is too much. 5 syllables for a first name is more than enough.

Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 20:00

It’s perfectly normal if you’re Swedish.

We're not Swedish ;)

Thanks :)!

OP posts:
Original poster
MariaMadita · 20/06/2018 19:58

European, maybe-Catholic tradition that feels quite classy and rooted in heritage

I am European and Catholic, yes. (DH was Protestant)

A friend of mine has given her daughter two first names (say Ivy May) and goes nuts if you just call her Ivy or add a hyphen but I just can’t get my head around having two first names.

I wouldn't go nuts. I was thinking about hyphenating them to make it obvious that they're two first names but the more or less united dislike on the older threads I read made me curious... (And I myself think it's nicer without a hyphen as well...)

If you are of a non-British origin, use a name that works in your culture and it will probably be Ok (e.g. Ann-Sofie, Marie-Claire, Ana Luisa)

My lovely husband is British...

Ok, so... The summarise:

Hyphenated: no

Two first names: bit strange but no social stigma

?

Thanks:)

OP posts:
MikeUniformMike · 20/06/2018 17:48

I would say nay. Hyphenated names in the UK are considered naff.
Two first names is fairly unusual, and will probably be known as the first of the two names.
Two first names joined without a hyphen, e.g. Annacaterina, Sarahjane is beyond naff.
If you are of a non-British origin, use a name that works in your culture and it will probably be Ok (e.g. Ann-Sofie, Marie-Claire, Ana Luisa)

daisypond · 20/06/2018 17:25

I particularly like Anna Luisa and Anna Lucia and I think they flow nicely. I like Anna Caterina as well, but it's more of a mouthful. People I know who have names like this are often Spanish/Italian/Russian, etc, where two names like this can be traditional. If you've got Continental origins particularly, I think these are great. If you want to shorten the names for children to something like Anisa, etc, I think they're nice as well.

MyKingdomForBrie · 20/06/2018 17:14

I love them all actually, beautiful names OP.

ShirleyWilliams · 20/06/2018 17:12

I personally know a Swedish Anna-Sofia, and I think it's beautiful.

ShirleyWilliams · 20/06/2018 17:12

It's just not a cultural convention in the U.K. like it is in other European countries.

So most British people will probably think it is a little odd at first, but that shouldn't stop you if it's something you want to do.

Drchinnery · 20/06/2018 17:00

I know a lot of people with hyphenated first names, none of them use the full name.

Swipe left for the next trending thread