To be confused. Can we use a / in a name?

[shouldhestay]

Often people double barrel a surname with a hyphen.
Is there any reason why a slash can't be used?
So say my name was Lucy and my Husband had the surname Baron and I had the surname Jones, could I not be 'Lucy Baron/Jones' ?
I'm thinking that for the kids school I am Lucy Baron, but for my bank accounts I have remained Lucy Jones.
I am just filling in a new form and always trip up when completing my name. Is there such a thing as having a slash in a name? Like could I be Lucy Baron/Jones instead of Lucy Baron-Jones?

I don't think you can

A slash is normally used when there are 2 options for something, like tea/coffee, so in your example you are saying you are lucy baron OR Lucy Jones.

A hypen is used to join 2 things together, hence them being used in double barrelled names

It means to options or ‘or’ usually so it just makes no sense to do that.

Two options sorry

Sorry, I didn't explain very well.

You wouldn't be able to slash your name as you should be using your official name, I know lots of people don't change passports etc after getting married until they expire, but for all new forms your official name should be used

A slash means or nut a hyphen joins two words together

No a slash means 'or' your name is your name. It isn't an either/ or.

It wouldn't make grammatical sense - as explained above it would mean either or

A forward slash means either or. It doesn't apply to surnames.

I have some documents and accounts in my maiden name and some in my married name. My passport is in my maiden name so all travel is in that name. Everything with the kids is my married name. That’s how I keep up two names - been doing it 20 years no problems.

@Allthegoodnamesaregoneffs

Sorry, I didn't explain very well.

You wouldn't be able to slash your name as you should be using your official name, I know lots of people don't change passports etc after getting married until they expire, but for all new forms your official name should be used

This isn't the case in England (don't know if the law is different in Wales/Scotland). You're entitled to use whatever name you like, so long as your intent isn't to defraud.

It may be an absolute pain, mind.

You might get problems with some computer forms and systems if you do this. I use both my married name and maiden one for different things

A slash is normally used when there are 2 options for something, like tea/coffee, so in your example you are saying you are lucy baron OR Lucy Jones.

Isn’t that just what the op wants to convey, though? She uses both names in different settings.

It needs to be your actual given name. What's on your birth certificate or marriage certificate as that would take over.

Don't do it. You'll break lots of computer application forms or they just won't accept it. A forward slash in technology is a sub directory.

To me the / would indicate it's a choice between two, rather than double barrel. I don't understand why you'd do it??

@HairyScaryMonster

It needs to be your actual given name. What's on your birth certificate or marriage certificate as that would take over.

Why?

I agree that / isn't conventionally allowed (though it's not the worst idea), but the OP hasn't even said what form she's filling in, and there are lots of official forms that wouldn't require your given name, or what's on your birth/marriage cert.

@watcherintherye

A slash is normally used when there are 2 options for something, like tea/coffee, so in your example you are saying you are lucy baron OR Lucy Jones.

Isn’t that just what the op wants to convey, though? She uses both names in different settings.

But at what point do you need or? Surely you just choose one for those places and go by that.

If you put or on a form then how do they know which one to choose to assess you?

Fwiw I have a different name at work to most other places apart from my phone because I have to go into the shop to change it and I’ve never been arsed 🤣

@HairyScaryMonster

It needs to be your actual given name. What's on your birth certificate or marriage certificate as that would take over.

Not according to English law. You can go by whatever name you want as long as the intention is not to defraud.

Certain institutions may require a name as stated on a birth certificate or marriage license, e.g. You can be Ms Mysterioso when you do your performance, and you can introduce yourself to your new London friends as Desirée Mysterioso, but the bank will take a cheque for Jane Smith, matching your passport.

It’s means either or. But a hyphen joins, so means both.

Desirée Mysterioso

Why would you?

@HairyScaryMonster

It needs to be your actual given name. What's on your birth certificate or marriage certificate as that would take over.

not in English law.

Your name is whatever you choose to use. Legally. I was never Mrs/Ms Hisname. The registrar also told us we could give the DC whatever last name we wanted, make up a new one, use one of our existing ones. We gave them mine. English law is very liberal around names, so long as there is no intent to deceive!

@watcherintherye

Desirée Mysterioso

I didn’t change my name on marriage but I want to change it to this right now

If I saw it written down as you’ve described I would roll my eyes and mutter something under my breath. Unbelievably pretentious.