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AIBU?

to not understand the rules of double barrell names. Explanation needed!

95 replies

heliumballoon1 · 14/02/2013 10:56

Dh and I have decided to give our new baby both our surnames. I kept my surname when we married and want our DC to have my name too.

However, I'm not entirely sure how it works. Sometimes double barrell names are hyphenated and sometimes not. Why is this? And which one should we go for? Does a hyphen mean that the two names are one complete name and are always used together?

We may just decide to use just one name on a daily basis - does that mean it would be better not to use hyphen?

Advice needed please!

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StuntGirl · 15/02/2013 14:30

I have no problem with people choosing one way or the other girl, at the end of the day its your choice.

I'm curious why you didn't give your son your name originally though, before you were married? Again, why the automatic deference to the father's name? (Not an attack, an actual question).

EuroShagmore · 15/02/2013 14:30

How can you not feel any ties to a name that you have used throughout your life?

We will use both names if we have children (no sure if we will hyphenate or not yet). If anyone thinks that's vvanky, I couldn't give a shiny sh1t, frankly. For me, it's a feminist issue.

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 14:33

Euro did you really just spell Wanky with two vs?

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 14:34

and shit with a 1?

go on, just swear, it's MN not nethuns!

aldiwhore · 15/02/2013 14:38

I had no problem 'carrying' my father's name throughout my life, but that doesn't mean I have to leave it behind, nor does it mean I am desperate to keep it.

For me it was about a choice. When I had a 'natural' choice to change my name I did... for me it was when I got married. I suppose I have my father's name now and my husband's (who has also now adopted my father's name) ... it could get confusing!

I 'could' have created my own name at any point in my life though, and I would not have an issue with anyone who did.

MY name happened to be my father's, but it became my own. I love my name, and it IS part of me, I am emotionally attached to it, I LIKE it, I didn't want to give it up because I was expected to as a woman... DH has had more 'stick' than me for taking 'my' name. It's a non issue. Likewise, if a woman is happy to take her DH's name, so what. So long as no one is forced, each to their own.

I think the worst 'insult' I've had is that I'm trying to up my social status, all I can say to that is MEH... I could have upped it in many other ways. I'm hardly fixated on climbing the class ladder if I drive i 15 year old Nissan Micra and rent a 3 bed semi!

I do loathe people having general opinions on me based on assumption.

GirlOutNumbered · 15/02/2013 14:38

I gave my son his fathers name as I wasn't bothered about continuing my name. We are not a close family (my father that is). That's the only reason. We did toy with double barrelled for him, but our names are too comical together.

StuntGirl · 15/02/2013 14:40

Another question which probably sounds like an attack but isn't meant to be - your husband "would have" considered taking your name. That implies no conversation on names took place. Did you have any discussions? Was it simply assumed (by you, him or both) that you would take his name?

GirlOutNumbered · 15/02/2013 14:42

Nope...see above. We talked about double barrelled. I don't think anything like that is just assumed in this day and age is it...?
Loads of people asked if I was keeping name/taking her when we said we were getting married. It seems quite common to not too.
I have friends that did completely make up a surname, sounds like a superhero, it's pretty cool.

BackforGood · 15/02/2013 14:43

No, I was in assembly this morning and some poor child was called out for their certificate, and they had a triple barrelled surname.

StuntGirl · 15/02/2013 14:46

Sorry, xpost.

So you had a discussion and went down a traditional route. Cool. I do still feel sad that you at no point in your life felt your name was 'yours', and was simply transient until you got married. What if you'd never got married?

I wonder why men don't seem to feel this ambivalence fowards their names (which if we're going down that route, is their fathers name anyway)? Or perhaps they do but as circumstance dictates they don't often have the same opportunity to ditch it?

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 14:46

no, you said you talked about double-barrelled, not about him taking your name.

GirlOutNumbered · 15/02/2013 14:50

Sorry I didn't make it crystal clear nickelback!

I guess in some part it's due to the fact that my mum married again and she had a different name, I was in my teens and I am not close to my dad. I hadn't really given it much thought till now. It's interesting thinking about it, maybe it's because I am still called by my old surname by friends, it's always been a nickname, so I don't notice if I miss it?

I don't know, perhaps a part of me is glad not to be called the same as my dad, like I have moved on from that?

EuroShagmore · 15/02/2013 14:52

nickel I'm at work. I'm complying with our internet policy (sort of)! I can only swear properly when posting from home. It's rather odd because loads of people swear out loud here, including me, but typing swear words is a no no.

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 15:03

poor you.

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 15:05

sorry, that was to EuroShag...

ah, i see Girl - it does make sense like that, but it still sounds like you are seeing your original surname as a "for now" name.
but that's up to you, of course, and your reasoning with that extra explanation is much better than your original changing from dad's to husband's because you love him more

ChaoticisasChaoticdoes · 15/02/2013 15:18

If it's just a name then why do some people get so stroppy when the woman doesn't change her name?

EuroShagmore · 15/02/2013 15:19

I have a number of innovative swear alternatives I regularly employ during office hours!

StuntGirl · 15/02/2013 15:29

Probably because the result of the male name dominated thing is some women like girl end up feeling that their name is never truly 'theirs', and that's quite sad to go through life without feeling like you own your own identity.

StuntGirl · 15/02/2013 15:31

Although it's not like I lose sleep over it. I view it is a feminist issue, some people don't. Horses for courses and all that.

nickelbabe · 15/02/2013 15:40

i view it as a feminist issue too.

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