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Baby names

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

Original poster

Double-barelled first names

59 replies

IIN16 · 12/08/2019 21:41

Opinions on double-barelled first names is it silly and pretentious? I really like Luna-Rae but I don't know...

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Malvinaa81 · 14/08/2019 17:48

Hyphenated first names sound as if used by the lower social classes- or in one (unhyphenated) word, "Common".

DerbyshireGirly · 14/08/2019 15:53

Agree with those saying it's chavvy.

Runwayqueen · 14/08/2019 15:41

I am a 'something'-Louise but none of the ones mentioned.

whattodowith · 14/08/2019 15:40

Chavvy.

SilverySurfer · 14/08/2019 15:38

Hideous and ghastly

Cookit · 14/08/2019 07:39

Pretentious? No, not at all. I have never heard anyone think a double barrelled name is pretentious. I feel like this is the wrong choice of word here.

I don’t like then honestly. Just choose a name.

mathanxiety · 14/08/2019 02:09

Bethany-Rose and Jessica-Lee have the same number of syllables as Araminta, Penelope, Persephone, Olivia, Victoria, Elizabeth, Anastasia, Alexandra, Isabella, Seraphina, Evangeline, Felicity...

Surely whether a name is 'too long' depends on how long the surname is?

sixtimes · 13/08/2019 18:57

I work in a school nursery and had 3 girls with double barrelled names last year. All of the parents had dropped the second part by the time they came to us at 3 years old!

banskuwansku · 13/08/2019 16:41

In DD's toddler group was a Bethany-Rose. To me the name was way too long.

Just couple days a go I heard somebody calling for Jessica-Lee. Too long again.

ThanksItHasPockets · 13/08/2019 15:23

I teach secondary and have encountered a lot of students with double-barrelled given names. Almost without exception they have dropped the second part and go by the first part only by the time they reach Year 7.

user1493494961 · 13/08/2019 13:30

Luna is dreadful.

georgialondon · 13/08/2019 13:03

I think they are Chavtastic rather than pretentious!

IntoValhalla · 13/08/2019 12:58

I’m sorry to say that when I hear a double-barrelled first name ie “Leo-Jay”, “Lexi-Mae” etc I immediately get an image of Vikki Pollard in my head Blush

ColaFreezePop · 13/08/2019 12:54

Please don't.

Yes we are all snobs on MN but that's probably because we do the prime minster, CEO etc test with the name.

A child doesn't stay a child forever and some names will stop you being hired.

PixieLumos · 13/08/2019 12:46

Really naff. Trying to sound fancy but achieving the complete opposite.

thetwinkles · 13/08/2019 12:45

I know of someone who gave the child a double barrelled first name - they also have a double barrelled second name! Confused

Lilyannarose · 13/08/2019 12:41

So Elsie-May, my Gran's rich friend who lived in a big posh house, was in her 60's in the 1990's and invited us to her home for "afternoon tea" was "chavvy" was she?
I really don't get this "chavvy" thing. The word chavvy in itself sets my teeth on edge.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinions of course, but if others like double barrel names then so be it. It's just personal taste.
If the child grows up to hate one half of the double barrel, then they have the advantage of dropping one of the names and going by the one they prefer.

SallyWD · 13/08/2019 11:36

I don't like them. It's always girls who get these cutesy double-barrelled first names.

gwilt · 13/08/2019 11:31

I make no comment, other than to say your child will be judged by others (I would say mainly negatively and linked to the stereotypes outlined) regardless.

MohairMenace · 13/08/2019 11:31

Makes me think of poor Moon-Unit

babycakes1010 · 13/08/2019 11:24

My dd has a double barrelled name and she loves it as it's unusual

FutureMrsC · 13/08/2019 11:20

Does it matter? I know a Lily-Beth, Aaliyah-Louise, Lily-Mae, Taya-Ann, Kaira-Leah. And I went to school with a Emma-Leigh

FairfaxAikman · 13/08/2019 11:13

I once knew a woman who had a double barrelled first name. Her sister also had a db first name and what's worse they shared the same name as the first part of that double barraling (think Sarah-Rose and Sarah-Lily).

I think it's awful and chavvy and I particularly hate it as it's ruined the name May for me.
It was my great grandmother's name and I had wanted to use it if I had a girl but Thr trend had really put me of doing it, even as a stand-alone first name.

curlyhairkindacare · 13/08/2019 10:13

What @ShutTheFridgeUp said!

ShutTheFridgeUp · 13/08/2019 09:51

Call your child what you want. I've found that the opinions on MN are not reflective of real life opinions. If you like a name, just use that.

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