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Baby names

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

Original poster

Hyphenated first names?

159 replies

Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 16:50

My DH chose the name for our baby who is due in 3 months. Its a name that has a lot of meaning to him and as I basically chose the names of our last two children (we agreed on them together and he likes them its just they were suggested by me) I think I want to use his chosen name for this child. However this name is only two letters.
The name is Io (eye oh) as in one of Jupiter's moons. My husband loves anything to do with space.
I just feel like Io is very short so I was considering hyphenating it with another more traditional name to make it longer?
I wondered what peoples thoughts were about this.... the name we would use is Celeste. So it would be Io-Celeste.
I've never actually met anyone with a double first name but I know they are common, lily Rose, Anne Marie, Lisa Marie, etc
Interested to hear peoples thoughts

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MyAnacondaMight · 20/10/2023 19:39

I don’t see what’s wrong with Io. It’ll land easier in east london vs the north east, but it’s a proper name and spelled how it sounds. No issue.

Celeste isn’t a good match as a second name - agree it’s like naming your child Daisy Flower. Step away from the celestial space, and away from the hyphens.

MaloneMeadow · 20/10/2023 19:27

@LylaLee very well said

MaloneMeadow · 20/10/2023 19:27

Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 17:58

@SkyePye two in Scotland wow! Its on the up!!

Guys the name Io is not up for debate. That will be her first name.
Yes I'm aware of the Greek goddess. I am also named after a Greek godess with a dark story!! And my husband has the middle name of a Greek hero who died horribly lmao... this is the way with those names!

I was just wondering about hyphenating it with Celeste. That is what I was asking about. Husband is completely set on Io and I won't be 'putting my foot down' as I think its a beautiful name myself and it means something to me that he chose it.

And I wouldnt worry about bullying. I live in an area rife with quite out there names. In my daughters class there are two Ophelias, a Florian, an Atlas, a CeCe... one of my sons friends is called Lux. Thats his real name, Lux.
Io will be fine 😄

OP I’m willing to argue that all of those names are miles more socially acceptable than Io. Don’t do it, you’re having a child not a social experiment. Poor kid

LylaLee · 20/10/2023 19:20

Io can be her middle name. It can be the name your husband calls her, like a special bond between them.

But why DELIBERATELY make life hard for your child?

The laugh your DH got for his name at the wedding - except for his daughter it's every single day (even if they don't laugh in her face). EVERY single time she has to introduce herself or fill out a form it will be a whole production.

Get him to read this thread. It seems like he's blinkered by his cute story: (I was writing a dissertation on Io when I realised I loved OP!) But has forgotten this is a human being's actual name.

oldnorsesaga · 20/10/2023 19:14

You're not really choosing hyphenated first name - you're choosing first and middle and making them tied. I don't mind Io and Io-Celeste is fine. I would tell you to drop the hyphen, but in this case it looks better than Io Celeste.

user14699084663 · 20/10/2023 18:59

ItsRebekahVardy · 20/10/2023 18:46

Hahahaha!

But seriously what about Iona instead?

Edited
Show quote history

Just what I was going to suggest! I went to school with a lovely girl called Iona.
No idea of its origins though.

OP my husband has a peculiar name, it’s a proper pain in the arse having to repeat it, spell it, explain it. Every sodding time. He’s prefers to be known by an unrelated nickname…

Original poster
Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:54

@TemporarilyshyAF one of those is my name! And I do get asked how to spell it and it is considered 'out there'.. and it does have a dark tale involving SA attached to it as per many Greek myths. Ive always liked my name though and honestly do not see why people think its such a big deal to have to spell your name to people sometimes? That happens with extremely common names too as there can be variations of spelling with those.. for example Kristin, Kristen, Kirsty, Kirstie, Kirstin etc theres loads like that.. even Sarah/Sara
No I don't think I will be hyphenating it now. Mumsnet has spoken lol.
But im sticking with the name Io. That wasn't up for debate.

OP posts:
YomAsalYomBasal · 20/10/2023 18:49

Io is bad enough, please don't give the poor child a hyphen as well.

Ryanstartedthefire2 · 20/10/2023 18:47

Io is nice. Io-celeste is weird.

ItsRebekahVardy · 20/10/2023 18:46

SkyePye · 20/10/2023 17:49

Unless you're worried about its rising popularity...?

(Scottish stats)

Hahahaha!

But seriously what about Iona instead?

Gummybear75 · 20/10/2023 18:44

I have a hyphenated first name. I was never called it as a child though and everyone assumes its my first and middle name. I don't have a middle name. I actually forget its even hyphenated til someone random calls me by it.
I know someone else with a hyphenated first name and everyone uses it. It depends how you introduce yourself as a child then adult.
Io-Celeste doesn't really flow imo as a singular name. Is there other names you'd consider or is it just deciding between hyphenated or first/middle names?
As its not pronounced how its spelt I don't think it sounds that short.

TemporarilyshyAF · 20/10/2023 18:42

I actually love the word Io and think it's beautiful but please think carefully. It isn't about what your husband has his heart set on because he likes space or whatever. Please ask yourself, very clear-eyed, do you honestly think it will be easy to live with Io day to day, spell it, introduce yourself, explain it again and again? If you're not sure then please reconsider.

Io Celeste is silly, sorry. You wouldn't call her Daisy Flower. Don't hyphenated it.

Jupiter has so many moons and satellites. There are some with much less out there names- Elara, Callisto(a), Thebe, Leda, Iocaste... I don't know the mythology behind them all. Suppose Jocasta is a colourful one but it's a known name.

It will be read 'Lo'.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 20/10/2023 18:35

Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:30

@EmpressaurusOfCats I cant say because its too outing now that I've said the babys name.. how many families will there be out there with these names 🤣
It was funny at the wedding though as it got a laugh when the registrar read it out. Although his first name is quite out there too, not many people knew his middle name. Had my friends coming up to me at the reception saying how very him it was to have that as a middle name.

Grin Thinking about it, I’m going for Orpheus.

I can imagine a couple thinking it’s romantic / music-related, without knowing he was eventually ripped to pieces.

Original poster
Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:30

@EmpressaurusOfCats I cant say because its too outing now that I've said the babys name.. how many families will there be out there with these names 🤣
It was funny at the wedding though as it got a laugh when the registrar read it out. Although his first name is quite out there too, not many people knew his middle name. Had my friends coming up to me at the reception saying how very him it was to have that as a middle name.

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 20/10/2023 18:25

I like Io Celeste without the hyphen.

Normally I have nothing against hyphenated names, but I think in this case the hyphen takes a lot of the pzazz away from both names.

Original poster
Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:23

@HuntingoftheSnark I LOVE Iolanthe! We almost called our older daughter that...
But as I said my husband is set on Io and its important to him. I did name our other two children and I do like Io so she will be called Io. I was just undecided about the hyphen but im now feeling like its not a good idea. I thought it might make the unusual name a bit more usual.. but people seem to be saying it would have the opposite effect.

OP posts:
NoNeedToHurry · 20/10/2023 18:23

If you have to have Io then definitely go for Io-Celeste. Then she can have the option of dropping the Io and being Celeste which is a beautiful name

I don't mind a double barrelled first name if it's not too much of a mouthful. I once knew a Stephanie-Maria which I actually think is beautiful but really long and she ended up being called Steph anyway 😂

mathanxiety · 20/10/2023 18:22

I know an Io, a girl who is about 10.

It's a nice name, imo, though unusual, and she gets called Ohio quite a lot.

EmpressaurusOfCats · 20/10/2023 18:21

And my husband has the middle name of a Greek hero who died horribly lmao... this is the way with those names!

Now I’m curious. Agamemnon? Pentheus? Actaeon?

Oblomov23 · 20/10/2023 18:21

Please don't do this.

LouOrange · 20/10/2023 18:21

Put your hands in the air and say eeey oh!

Original poster
Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:20

@Cinai yes I think thats what I will do

OP posts:
HuntingoftheSnark · 20/10/2023 18:20

I love Iolanthe. Would he agree to that in hyphenated form? Although Mumsnet hate them, I have hyphenated hame and am always known by both parts.

LylaLee · 20/10/2023 18:18

Sunmoonstars33 · 20/10/2023 18:11

@RogersOrganismicProcess welcome to Greek mythology. As I said I have the name of a Greek goddess with a dark tale and my husband has a middle name from a tragic Greek mythology..
But my husband loves this name because of the moon and a personal story I won't detail here but involves that moon

Let io be a middle name

Cinai · 20/10/2023 18:18

I’d go for Io and a second name without hyphen. She could still use both if she prefers (I know an Anna Maria who uses both her names although not hyphenated, she introduces herself that way and usually people follow), or, she can use one or the other.