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Original poster

Double barrelling without hyphen?

53 replies

ginandgarlands · 02/01/2022 20:59

Less of an AIBU but more of a question I guess…

I’m getting married this year and I think I want to take my husband’s surname in part, but I definitely want to keep mine in some capacity too.

Not keen on double barrelling with a hyphen when he is not going to do this, but would quite like to add his name as a second surname. So for example I would become Sarah Smith Jones (not my real name, obviously).

I know this is legal but I’m just wondering if anyone has done this and had any issues, or if I’m missing something by wanting to do it this way?

OP posts:
JurgensCakeBabyJesus · 02/01/2022 21:02

I toyed with this after we got married (we both double barrelled) but most people/organisations just use the very last name if there's no hyphen, which for me would've been my husband's original name, which was exactly what I was trying to avoid, so now we both use a hyphen and that's reflected on passport, driving licence etc

RedCandyApple · 02/01/2022 21:05

I did this with my daughter, gave her mine and her fathers name without double barrelling but everywhere just decided to drop mine because it was first and only call her under his name, I later found it it’s because people will assume my name is a middle name 🤦🏻

Ugly6 · 02/01/2022 21:07

I double barrel without the hyphen for the same reason and have no problems at all. I love my name!

LittleRoundRobin · 02/01/2022 21:09

It IS going to look like the first surname is a middle name sorry @ginandgarlands

As a pp said, if you put Mrs Sarah Jackson Hall, some people will just be addressing you as Sarah Hall.

I used to know a woman called Carole McAllister Lane, (McAllister was her maiden name,) and everyone just referred to her/wrote to her etc, as Carole Lane. They thought McAllister was a middle name. Especially as it's quite common in some places for a woman's maiden name to be her 'middle' name.

disclaimer, the names are not real...

tectonicplates · 02/01/2022 21:12

People will find it confusing as most people aren't familiar with the concept. You'll have endless problems with organisations not being able to work out which one is your surname, typing it into the wrong field and then the next person won't be able to find you when looking you up by surname as it's been typed in the wrong field. It will cause you a load of admin nightmares.

Original poster
ginandgarlands · 02/01/2022 21:13

This is all interesting, thanks! I’m not sure if it matters too much having people drop the last one as I’ll be keeping my maiden name for work purposes anyway… I’m just trying to work out who’ll be dropping it that I won’t be able to correct?

OP posts:
Thoosa · 02/01/2022 21:13

My children had non hyphenated DB names. It caused constant issues. They’ve all dropped half the name in adulthood.

Cousin had non hyphenated DB first name, that also caused problems. She eventually legally hyphenated.

I had my passport endorsed with an “observation” noting I was also known as “First Middle Married named”. That has worked well. I use my own name for some things, his for others, double barrel when I fancy it, and the passport is always accepted as proof.

Just another idea.

Original poster
ginandgarlands · 02/01/2022 21:16

@Thoosa

My children had non hyphenated DB names. It caused constant issues. They’ve all dropped half the name in adulthood.

Cousin had non hyphenated DB first name, that also caused problems. She eventually legally hyphenated.

I had my passport endorsed with an “observation” noting I was also known as “First Middle Married named”. That has worked well. I use my own name for some things, his for others, double barrel when I fancy it, and the passport is always accepted as proof.

Just another idea.

Ok interesting - that’s kind of what I’m hoping to do, thought that non hyphenated double barrelled would be the easiest of way of being able to chop and change on everything except my passport etc.

What does getting an “observation” on your passport mean?

OP posts:
Hankunamatata · 02/01/2022 21:18

Problem is that most places will just use the last name unless hyphenated. Where I work if we received your details we would just use the last name as surname, others would be regarded as middle names.

Thoosa · 02/01/2022 21:23

What does getting an “observation” on your passport mean?

If you look above/below the photo page (depending on how old the passport is) there is a blank page headed “This page is reserved for official observations”. On mine it has been printed on that page “THE HOLDER IS ALSO KNOWN AS OLIVIA JANE MICHAELS” (Not real name obviously.)

The passport helpline were very helpful on telling me how to do it.

RedCandyApple · 02/01/2022 21:25

@ginandgarlands

This is all interesting, thanks! I’m not sure if it matters too much having people drop the last one as I’ll be keeping my maiden name for work purposes anyway… I’m just trying to work out who’ll be dropping it that I won’t be able to correct?
It’s the first they will drop not the last
GiltEdges · 02/01/2022 21:29

@ginandgarlands

This is all interesting, thanks! I’m not sure if it matters too much having people drop the last one as I’ll be keeping my maiden name for work purposes anyway… I’m just trying to work out who’ll be dropping it that I won’t be able to correct?
They won't drop the last one, that's the point. They're likely to drop the first one, presuming it's a middle name.
esloquehay · 02/01/2022 21:30

My DC and I have DB surname with no hyphen, which is the norm in our country of origin. We tend to only use the last part of the surname, as most English people mispronounce the first part.

ADialgaAteMyDog · 02/01/2022 21:31

My kids have this, the only place that doesn't get it is the chemist, which thinks the first surname is a middle name. Only irritating as I have to go every month!

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 02/01/2022 21:35

@tectonicplates

People will find it confusing as most people aren't familiar with the concept. You'll have endless problems with organisations not being able to work out which one is your surname, typing it into the wrong field and then the next person won't be able to find you when looking you up by surname as it's been typed in the wrong field. It will cause you a load of admin nightmares.
This. I am in exactly this position and have endless admin headaches, the latest being that the name on my covid pass doesn't match my passport. My advice is to hyphenate.
Heruka · 02/01/2022 21:38

This may be a tangent but I always wonder what’s going to happen to all the double barrelleds when they get married? Quadruple barrelling? And the next generation after that?!

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 02/01/2022 21:40

I tried this and the bank could not handle it. They couldn't send me a card with my new name on but updated my credit file to show my husband's surname. I had to complain to the ombudsman to get it sorted so just used a hyphen for everything after that.

MythicalBiologicalFennel · 02/01/2022 21:41

Forgot to say that it's annoying that companies and individuals take it upon themselves to "correct" you... as if I don't know my own surname Hmm but they will get it wrong and override you OP despite your best attempts.

I'm looking at you Boden and Waitrose, I entered my name in the name box and my surname in the surname box

berylandbetty · 02/01/2022 21:49

Myself and my kids have this for our surname. Its not caused a huge issue so far but I was always of the view that I didn’t mind if we ended up just using my husbands name as legally we have both.

Mostly we’ve had people assume it’s hyphenated and add it in. Plus my husbands surname is not a typical British name so most don’t know how to spell it so we were always going to have ‘explain’ our surname.

Strangely @ADialgaAteMyDog I have the same problem!

WaystarRoycoCEO · 02/01/2022 21:54

This is a really interesting thread to read as my maiden surname was double barrelled with no hyphen and I really never had a problem with it other than having to say on occasion 2 words no hyphen. It was never an issue on any documentation.

RedCandyApple · 02/01/2022 21:57

Maybe you notice it less if you don’t mind one being dropped? I split up with my ex so everyone dropping my name and only using his was hard to not notice, literally nowhere used my name AT ALL, I even got referred to as miss (exes name) with people assuming it was my surname as well. It was really frustrating.

DontTellThemYourNamePike · 02/01/2022 22:07

My two sons have double barrelled surnames without hyphens. Unfortunately the middle surname can also be a first name - so, for example, Michael Ryan Smith. The first surname is often dropped as people assume it's a middle name. When I'm, say, picking up my child's prescription, I have to make it clear that I'm giving his first name and two surnames, as opposed to pompously enunciating my child's whole name, including middle name! I don't know if a hyphen would have helped - I think it might. Or swapping the surnames round so that it was obvious they were both surnames. Even getting this to make sense on here is tying me in knots!! I imagine they'll end up picking the one they like most when they're older (mineGrinGrin)

laidbacklife · 02/01/2022 22:08

Hyphenate or the first surname will be dropped. Have you both considered meshing your two names into one? Could be a good work around.

pylongazer · 02/01/2022 22:15

I have this and did it because I like the option of using both names, just married name, just maiden name depending how I'm feeling! The only issue I have is with NHS stuff as I seem to have multiple surnames depending what I'm doing but I can honestly say I've never had any other issues and I've been married 15 years. Go for it!

neatlittlerows · 02/01/2022 22:20

I have an unhyphenated double barrelled surname. Literally no-one ever realises and everything ends up hyphenated anyway 🙄 I’ve stopped caring. If you don’t want a hyphen then don’t include one but you’re probably the only person who will ever notice or remember!