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Baby names

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

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Original poster

First name clashing with surname?

30 replies

TruffleMama · 26/06/2020 12:35

Hi all - my very first post to MumsNet!

Am 11w and 6d, awaiting Harmony test results (next Friday) so have thrown myself into baby names to take my mind off things.

We have tons of girls names, but we're really struggling with boys names.
My DP (darling partner) likes very strong names such as Vincent, Mitchell, Carter. I am not so keen. I prefer more softer, traditional names, such as Matthew, Joshua, Daniel, which he is not a fan of.

The only names we can agree on are:
Jack and Zack, which we both really love!

However, baby's surname will be Keegan.
I've repeated "Jack/Zack Keegan" to myself over and over and I feel they are hard to say together. I have to pause between each name to make sure I emphasize the K at the end of the first name and the K at the start of the surname.. otherwise they merge and it sounds like I'm actually saying: Jackeegan/Zackeegan.

My DP (darling partner) says it's not that big a deal as we don't go around saying our full names that often and for 90% of his life, he will be just be using his first name.

Just wanted to get some more thoughts on this please. Thanks in advance xx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Cherrybakewellard · 27/06/2020 13:34

My son is Zack and he weirdly has a very similar sounding surname to yours. I've never thought it clashes.

If you are having a Zack though, be prepared for people to constantly misspell it.

My son got told off at school for not listening, he said it's because the teacher calls him Zachary or Zachariah and it's not his name

MikeUniformMike · 27/06/2020 13:32

Congratulations @TruffleMama!
Happy birthday for tomorrow.

Original poster

TruffleMama · 27/06/2020 09:06

Hi @ToyKitchenSink

I had thought of that. Guess I should have mentioned it in my previous post. I wouldn't mind two middle names, my DP prefers just the one.

Not so sure on:
Firstname Rose Leigh Surname - as that combo of middle names will no doubt become "Rosie-Lee" (which I really don't like) and could end up as an unintended nickname.

Back to the drawing board on middle name(s) it is!
Firstname Leigh Rose Surname might work... I'll work on DP

OP posts:

ToyKitchenSink · 27/06/2020 08:38

Have two middle names then. There's no rule that you have to only have one.

Original poster

TruffleMama · 27/06/2020 08:30

Thank you @DoTheMaccaroni

Thankfully we have thought of quite a few girls names that we both like. Here's a list:

Chloe
Isla
Keira
Bella
Mia
Zoe

I like the middle name Rose, but DP is eager for it to be Leigh as that is both of our Mother's name and, although I am not s keen on it, it does make a wonderful tribute to both grandmothers-to-be xx

OP posts:

DoTheMaccaroni · 27/06/2020 08:07

@TruffleMama ahh great news! Congratulations OP! Out of curiosity, what names you like a girl?

Original poster

TruffleMama · 27/06/2020 00:02

Thank you all so much for your replies, but I now no longer need help with boys names...

I submitted my post today to distract me from thinking about our upcoming Harmony test results... what are the chances... the results came through just a few hours after I submitted my post...

We're having a girl!!

Blood test result gave

OP posts:

Magpiecomplex · 26/06/2020 15:58

I agree with the PPs saying Egan is the possible mis-hearing. My maiden name had the same problem, coupled with both first name and surname being a little unusual and in the case of my first name multiple possible spellings. It's one of the reasons I took my husband's surname - it wasn't irritating enough to be worth formally changing it by deed poll but when the opportunity occurred, I took it.

Viragoesque · 26/06/2020 15:51

I think it sounds clumsy, OP. My own name and surname combination is difficult to say because of the emphases unstressed/stressed stressed/unstressed and it's very clear my parents never said the name and surname aloud together before naming me.

Alwaysundecided · 26/06/2020 15:50

I think you're over-thinking it, which I completely understand as I overthought my DC's names!
Zachary Keegan is the perfect solution with nickname Zack. That way when his full name is announced in professional settings you lose the issue of the K sounds running together.
But honestly I wouldn't bat an eyelid at a Jack or Zack Keegan if that is what you really want.

Edenember · 26/06/2020 15:47

I would go Zachary and use Zach day to day. One of my boys has the exact same issue with the surname so we’ve used the longer form officially and he gets the shortened form in everyday life.

CaffiSaliMali · 26/06/2020 15:38

I agree with others that Zachary Keegan flows better, he could still be known as Zach, but would have the option of introducing himself as Zachary Keegan if he preferred.

John Keegan and Jackson Keegan flow better.

I very rarely introduce myself as 'Mali Surname' at work, I just go by 'Mali' as I'm the only one! However, Zach and Jack - especially Jack - are quite common names so he will probably have to use his surname as well when introducing himself.

As you're not married I would give DS your surname, or give DS yourname-hisname to break up the k sounds. Jack Smith-Keegan, for example.

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2020 14:33

Zackery is awful. It's Zachary.

BikeRunSki · 26/06/2020 14:23

@steppemum is right in that Jack Keegan sounds the sane as Jackkeegan anyway. My first name and married names run together to form a different first name, which leaves people hanging for my surname eg: Emma Lyon becomes “What’s your surname Emmeline ?”.

But Jack/Zack Keegan is fine. He’s unlikely to be the only Jack/Zack in any group though.

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2020 14:17

J/Zack Keegan sounds like J/Zack Egan.

I worked with a Lisa Redmond and people misheard the name as Lisa Edmonds. It meant wrongly addressed mail amd emails.

IJustWantFiveMinutesAlone · 26/06/2020 14:16

I think it could be mistaken as Jack Egan?

Tfoot75 · 26/06/2020 14:11

I don't think it really matters, though I do see what you mean. I think Jack flows better than Zach, but I've no idea why! I would also consider Jackson or Zachary as a PP said as it would prevent this at least half of the time!

Laurendelight · 26/06/2020 14:05

If your child has the same name as another child in his class he will be forever known (even when that child moves) as Jack/Zack Keegan. That said I think Zackery Keegan is beautiful.

CloudyGladys · 26/06/2020 14:02

It'll be fine. If you take a pause or breathe between the two names it's perfectly clear and he will learn to do the same. It will only be an issue when giving his name to someone for the first time and you/ he would take care to pronounce it clearly in that situation anyway.

MikeUniformMike · 26/06/2020 14:00

I disagree with OP's DP. Think of most of the people you know, people on tv etc and they are usually Firstname Surname.

With a popular name like Jack or Zac/Zack he'll be Jack K or Zack K at school, and Jack/Zack Keegan at work etc.

I think a name that doesn't end with a k would be better.

ConnellWaldronsChain · 26/06/2020 13:32

I agree that having the hard K sound at the end of first name and start of surname doesn't flow well

Whatsyourflava · 26/06/2020 13:29

Jack Keegan is lovely and has a nice symmetry to it with the K ending and K beginning and agree with previous poster, they are clearly seperate names. Like your husband says 99.9% of the time people will only be using his first name anyway.

JorisBonson · 26/06/2020 13:28

My DP's surname is of a similar ilk OP and his first name not only rhymes but they both finish with an N. It's very awkward to say!

RiftGibbon · 26/06/2020 13:25

Is the surname yours or your partner's? How would Jack/Zach sound with both surnames? Eg Zach Jones Keegan

Original poster

TruffleMama · 26/06/2020 13:23

@steppemum

If you say jack Keegan and it runs together, it is still obvious that it is Jack keegan.

It is fine, you are overthinking it!

Hi Steppemum

You know, I actually never thought of that. You're right, even though the two names sort of merge together when said quickly without pausing to emphasize the two K's... it's still obvious that his name is Jack Keegan.
Thank you for pointing this out - it's made me feel much more positive about it now xx

OP posts:

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