Double barrelled names

[lovelondon7]

I’m pregnant with my first child and not sure whether to give him / her (will find out their gender when born) a double barrelled surname.

I’d like to give our baby a DBS because I didn’t take my husband’s surname. Our child will be mixed race and I want both sides of their heritage to be reflected. I’m also worried about travelling to airports and officials querying whether the child is mine (if we travel alone).

However, my husband is completely against the idea. He says it’s not practical.

Any advice would be appreciated, keen to hear from people who have had to fill out official documents for kids with DBS. Thanks

Double barrel surname for my child, and then my husband and I changed ours to the same double barrel also.

It's fine. We have had no issues at all. I think it's a good idea but I am also of the view that children should not automatically get the fathers name.

Give the baby one of the surnames as a middle name.

This is exactly what my brother did. They have now all had the double barrelled surname for years and have never said it's any issue at all. I would want my surname reflected in there so if husband kicked up a fuss about the double barrelled name I'd be saying ok, well child can have my surname then.

Its not an issue generally - and if worried, just keep a copy of the relevant birth cert in with the passport.

Its very common for families to have differing names outside the UK and its commoner than it used to be in the UK.

Well - it not being practical doesn't make any sense. Double barrelled names are hardly uncommon and I don't think those with them are suffering unduly.

I think he just doesn't like the idea!

You're carrying the baby - you out your foot down

We have a double barrelled surname and it hasn't caused an issues at all. Both joined them when married as I didn't want to give up my surname. Never been an issue with the children either

If your husband doesn't want a dbs because it's "not practical" then I assume he won't mind the baby just having your surname. Or is it only "practical" if the name is his? Don't put up with any nonsense on this, it sounds like he just has old school ideas about passing on his name alone and this "practicalities" stuff is just a way for him to try and do that without having to come out and say it.

Both my children have a dbs. We aren't married and both have our original surnames. Partner already has a dbs himself so we split it and used part of as a middle name. So I am Miss A and he is Mr B-C and our children are <first name> B A-C. He comes from a culture where dbs are common and this is the normal way of handling passing names on. We have never had any issues whatsoever and we have travelled a lot and lived in several different countries.

Yes, same our daughter is double barrelled. We are married but I did not change my name. Never had any problems with forms or travel or anything at all.