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Baby names

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Original poster

Can we triple barrel our child's name?

113 replies

TooManySurnames · 19/02/2019 00:11

Ok, before I start, last time I did a thread it got picked up by journos so, just in case: please fuck off lazy journo twats.

Right. I have a single 2 syllable surname, lets say "Austen". My partner has a 3-2 syllable double barrelled name, with the first part being relevant to his heritage, say "González-Peters". We both want to share our surnames with our child, and neither of us are willing to change or drop our names, so we're in a stand off. I think he should give the first part of his name as a middle name, and double barrel the rest with mine:

[John] [González] [Peters-Austen]

He think's we should use both names as surnames, but without hyphenating:

[John] [González-Peters Austen]/ [Austen González-Peters]

I think 3 names is too much to saddle a child with, especially when part of it is already hard to spell/ pronounce. He says that it's not 3 names, it's 2, i.e. his name is not "González"+"Peters", its "González-Peters". If we were Peters-Austen then our child would have his fathers name and my name, but not his name. I can see his logic but I still think it's too much, you can't just keep adding names forever!

I'm putting it to the MN jury, and also open to alternative solutions. Will probably show him this thread.

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BeekyChitch · 19/02/2019 01:10

My Spanish friend has literally about 6 (possibly more) second/middle names as they take all the grandparents names also. I think it's nice. People don't really call others by your whole first and second name anyway unless at school. Even then you can choose how they use the name. I think 3 is fine.

RollerJed · 19/02/2019 00:53

And what happens when your dc gets married or has dc Hmm

3 is ridiculous - but then I think double barrel surnames are as well.

ErrolTheDragon · 19/02/2019 00:48

We have lots of double, double barrelled children in my school. Think 'Rosie-Mae Smith-Yates.

That's not a double double-barrelled name, it's a hyphenated forename and a double barrelled surname.

The only triple-barrelled surname I can ever remember hearing is Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes ...Ralph Fiennes is actually Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes come to think but they obviously just use the Fiennes bit in normal use. (quite funny that He Who Must Not Be Named has such an excessive nameGrin)

Anyway... 3 is a bit much, maybe you could put the whole lot on the birth certificate González-Peters Austen but follow this example and just use Austen normally.

Skirmisher · 19/02/2019 00:31

I know there's a family called the Anstruther-Gough-Calthorpe. Would a name that long even fit on bank cards?

isitfridayyett · 19/02/2019 00:31

I'm British and moved to America 10 years ago. Please don't give your child 3 last names! Having two middle names was an absolute nightmare on paper and I can't even imagine that issue with a last name. I understand wanting to keep your heritage but that can only be to a point...what if your DC marries someone with a double barreled name; should they have 5 last names!?

Original poster
TooManySurnames · 19/02/2019 00:29

Oh really, that's interesting Soontobe60! I've never known anyone have anything more than double-barrelled

OP posts:
Soontobe60 · 19/02/2019 00:27

We have lots of double, double barrelled children in my school. Think 'Rosie-Mae Smith-Yates. Sounds like the cast of Tom Browns schooldays

Original poster
TooManySurnames · 19/02/2019 00:26

González-Austen would be lovely, I just thought using it as a middle name would help preserve the original "flow" of the name since it comes first atm. I wouldn't even be adverse to using it informally, but with formal documents they'd have a simpler legal name.

My partner genuinely think's it'll be fine to use all 3 names. There's a precedent for doing so in his/ his mum's culture, and he's worried the parent who's name is dropped will be upset and offended (though he has agreed to actually ask them rather than just assuming).

OP posts:
ninalovesdragons · 19/02/2019 00:23

I'm not sure what you're solution is but I agree, 3 surnames is far too many. I knew a boy at school with two first names and a long double barrelled surname and it was frequently commented on/laughed at at awards evenings and prize givings etc.

Giving a child 3 surnames is a burden, don't do it!

BreakfastAtSquiffanys · 19/02/2019 00:20

Ask him are you naming a child or a firm of solicitors?

PennyMordauntsLadyBrain · 19/02/2019 00:15

Seriously suggest to your DP that you all go triple barrelled and see what he says.

It’s ridiculous to lumber someone with three surnames, and I say that as someone who chose a very complicated non-English surname to double barrel with on marriage.

riotlady · 19/02/2019 00:14

I agree 3 is too much.
Can you not use the culturally relevant part of his name plus yours? Ie. Gonzalez-Austen

Skirmisher · 19/02/2019 00:13

Three is too many. Your solution of putting one of his surnames as a middle name is eminently sensible.

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