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Baby names

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Original poster

16-letter hyphenated last name?

32 replies

ai38 · 02/01/2024 03:34

Is it a bad idea to give my child a 16-letter double-barrelled (with hyphen) surname?

My DH and I have different last names and we both want to pass our heritage to DD. Both of our last names are non-English and mine is more difficult to pronounce for English-speakers. Initially we thought we can use my last name as DC's middle name but the more I think about it the more I dislike the idea as I feel relegating my last name to her middle name makes it invisible in practice.

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newoldfluff · 02/01/2024 05:30

As a PP said the only thing I can think that might be an issue is official forms if their first name is quite long too

newoldfluff · 02/01/2024 05:29

LauderSyme · 02/01/2024 03:49

Sixteen double-barrelled letters might be tricky for English speakers, and your dd will spend her life endlessly spelling it out phonetically.

But that matters far less than who her mum and dad are, and you two both passing on your heritage to your child. It's the best idea, not a bad one.

It's nothing to do with the length of the name

Xiaoxiong · 02/01/2024 05:15

My kids have an 18 letter double barrelled surname and it doesn't cause any issues. Sometimes when it's printed on boarding passes, the last few letters don't get printed but it hasn't delayed boarding or anything.

PivotPivotmakingmargaritas · 02/01/2024 04:15

My first thought was ensure your DC have a short first name and no middle names as long names are difficult when travelling and I’ve seen people have problems as their name on their passport is too long for an airline ticket

HobnobsChoice · 02/01/2024 04:07

My kids have two surnames totalling 16 letters but no hyphen in it. Neither are British surnames originally and technically aren't hard to pronounce but even mine which is only 6 letters long and is said exactly as it is spelled baffles people somehow. However both my husband and I really like our names and the history behind them so there was never any question of us not giving our children both our surnames. My sister in law regrets not giving her son her surname too now as she feels she's lost a bit of a link to her heritage

The only issue I've had is I use thicker pens to write with and my handwriting is not neat so some forms that require me to fill in their names can get a bit crowded.

LauderSyme · 02/01/2024 03:49

Sixteen double-barrelled letters might be tricky for English speakers, and your dd will spend her life endlessly spelling it out phonetically.

But that matters far less than who her mum and dad are, and you two both passing on your heritage to your child. It's the best idea, not a bad one.

Fivepigeons · 02/01/2024 03:43

My husband, all my children and I have a 16 letter double barrelled surname! I never even thought twice about it. Only counted the letters just now when I read this thread lol but yes it's 16!
Before I was married I had a double barrelled surname as my parents also did that. So have always had one. Never been an issue