Is this double barrel cruel?!

look to the future when you child wants to marry another double barreled name, the poor buggers would end up with 4 bloody surnames !

If you must then you definitely don’t need two Mcs so I’d drop one as suggested.

@C152 I’ve got a 10 yo with a different surname, been with stepdad for 8 years. Travelled alone with DC and as a family (3 different surnames between us at one point) I’ve never been asked a single question at any border.

I would have all 3 have an amalgamation like McKindade and the other names as middle names.

My own DC have one as a middle name but I took DH surname.

I think double-barrelling is pointless - somewhere along the line, one of the names is going to get dropped. Either change your respective surnames completely or go for the middle name option.

Yes drop the Mc from one of them. McKinley-Dade or Mcdade Kinley etc

I am not a fan of double barrel names but don't think it is any worse than any other one with a similar number of syllables

So no worse than Robinson-Carter or Henderson-McCall for example, in some ways the fact it has 2 Mac names makes it more memorable

So if you wouldn't have a problem with your child having either of the above combinations then I wouldn't allow the double Mac factor to put you off!

I actually preferred the Kinley-McDade version over the McKinley-Dade versions suggested about.

McKindade (or whatever the equivalent is). Think of the forms/signature/certificates that will be forever fucked up.

I'd go with middle name. I think with two long surnames, double barrelled is just really hard work. It actually sounds quite nice and rolls off the tongue nicely, but it speaking as a person with a long fore name, long middle name and long (not double barrelled) surname, it is a right pain having a long name to deal with.

If you do go double barrelled you want the shortest forename you can tolerate, and ideally no middle name!

DH and I had terrible surnames to double barrel (thinking Johnson-Fondler/ Fondler-Johnson 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣) so we both changed to amalgamate. I guess it’s something like Fondson or Johnler. It’s a weird name but at least we all have the same.

I think it’s fine- there’s lots of people with Mc names where I’m from, so I wouldn’t blink an eye at double barrelling two.

We double barrelled the kids’ names despite them not going together AT ALL - my name is short and welsh, DH’s is a difficult Irish language name and it is a mouthful together. We’ve made peace that it’s up to them when they’re older if they want to drop one of the names, or in DH’s case use the English translation, but for now I’m really glad they have both.

Perhaps use one as a middle name as a PP suggested. Imagine yourself with that name and then with just the one name... which would you prefer?

I don’t think the surname will define how tight knit they are. My husband and his family are still close to my husband’s sister even though she has a different surname to the rest of his family. I wouldn’t worry about that side of it.

Dropping one of the mcs seems pointless to me, it changes the name and no longer keeps the connection, so why bother? I think just use one of the names as a middle name. My Scottish side of the family all have various family surnames as middle names.

It's absolutely fine! Do it! I wish we'd double barrelled with ours, except the one thing I like about us all having DH's name and one of the reasons I took his name, is because it is a common surname and I like being difficult to identify 😂. Not because I'm doing anything terrible. I'm not a fugitive or anything. But I like people not being able to find me easily online etc.

McKinley and McDade are quite common names in NI, and I guess maybe in Scotland, but the double barrel would be quite identifying. Something to consider. Some people would prefer it of course!

I think dropping by one Mc would be fine. McKinleyDade but two is too much.

Be aware that, whenever you travel overseas (whenever it's allowed again!), you'll probably be asked at border control for the child's birth certificate every single time, as their name will be different to both yours and your husband's name.

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has managed ok. I remember thinking that was weird at first but the more you hear something the more you get used to it. I didn’t double barrel my name for our kids and wish I had.

I'd give one surname as a middle name too, or even first name if that works

I'm not overly keen on awkward double barrel, it used to be posh, these days it's more about people wanting both their names in the mix - I guess it's a bit like the Spanish culture - progress maybe? But two Mc names don't really go

It does sound to me a bit like a firm of Estate Agent or Solicitors.

BUT if you and DH are Estates Agents or Solicitors it could be a great way of promoting your business!

As someone with a hyphenated surname (I don’t like the term double barrelled) I love my surname and would never change it.

My surname is also quite long but apart from the problem of it never fitting into the allotted space on forms it’s never been an issue for me.

I insisted DS have my surname because that’s how strongly I feel about it.
I don’t care if people think it’s naff, I love my hyphenated surname.

To be clear, I don't think the double barrel is impossible. I just didn't do it in the end!

I don't think it's impossible.

I was in a similar situation, and in the end just gave the baby her father's surname. There was a middle name that was really important to me from my side though, so that was my compromise with myself (husband was happy with whatever).

I do kind of treasure the three days in hospital when she was Baby MyName though... That will always be her a little bit too!