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?

But that would be

Lucy Baron or Jones. As in

LBJ 'Hi my name is Lucy Baron or Jones'
New person 'what? Is it Baron or Jones?'
LBJ 'yes'

That's going to cause so many problems for the poor child.

HMPO wouldn’t allow it on a passport and as others have said, a slash gives the message of an option so it wouldn’t make sense.

If you look into the regulations around acceptable names applicable when you apply to change your name by deed poll (here), under "Unacceptable names" the Deed Poll Office will refuse a deed poll application with any name that:

...

contains symbols or punctuation marks other than hyphens or apostrophes (if you want to use other punctuation, contact us first)

So I guess ask the Deed Poll Office?

You are suppose to have one name that distinguishes you from everyone else and can be legally accountable for. ‘/‘ means either/or. So which is it? You can also just leave a space instead of a hyphen eg ‘Baron Jones’.

Just pick one officially and use the other informally. Or use both officially with a hyphen and it’s up to you if you drop part of it sometimes, (again informally).

@Allandnothing

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

This

You can just have nothing between them though - it can be Morgan-Smith or Morgan Smith

You could just do it the old fashioned way, Lucy Baron née Jones.

@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

Your birth name and your spouse's name are both your "official" names. There's no reason at all why you can't have a passport with one name and a bank account with the other (although it is a bit of a PITA)

@BiscuitLover3678

You are suppose to have one name that distinguishes you from everyone else and can be legally accountable for. ‘/‘ means either/or. So which is it? You can also just leave a space instead of a hyphen eg ‘Baron Jones’.

Just pick one officially and use the other informally. Or use both officially with a hyphen and it’s up to you if you drop part of it sometimes, (again informally).

How does that work for people who have identical names?

To everyone saying "it implies or rather than and", the whole point is that she WANTS it convey an either/or!

I opened this thread assuming you were being ridiculous, but you've won me round, I think smith/Jones should be an accepted option.

We always have a nightmare with students logins at school when the name is double barrelled. I think adding a / instead of a - would be more than the computers could cope with... Honestly the number of times I have to contact IT or reset passwords is ridiculous for names with hyphens.

At work I use the surname I qualified in my profession in, and intend to continue to do so. It's useful to have a different identity tbh. My passport and nhs records are now in my married name, need to change driving licence and bank account. Getting married snd moving house in lockdown meant a lot of admin didn't get done at the time.

Both your maiden and married names can be legally used interchangeably, you don't need the slash at all.

My driver's license and bank are different from my medical records and school both were confirmed to be completely valid.

It's the same way you can legally go by your middle name or first name... as long as you are open about using both names (lots of paperwork like government stuff that requires fraud check include an also known by section) then there's nothing stopping you from using any or all legal names you have.

I know lots of people who go by Dr Smith professionally, but Dr/Mrs Jones (or Dr/Mrs Smith-Jones) where it's easier to match their children.

It isn't a problem, it can just be a bit of a nuisance to make sure things that need to match do.

I don't think you can use a slash, but I understand why you'd like to.

@DoobryWhatsit

To everyone saying "it implies or rather than and", the whole point is that she WANTS it convey an either/or!

I opened this thread assuming you were being ridiculous, but you've won me round, I think smith/Jones should be an accepted option.

But it's not. Because she wants it as one name. 'Mrs Lucy Baron or Jones' or 'Mrs Lucy Baron and Jones'.

And/or would be part of the last name. She would be Lucy Jones on some thing and Lucy Baron on others.

I use 2 surnames for 2 different things. I just use the appropriate surname I want in that situation. I don't present both as options for other people to use.

I think an asterisk would be prettier, maybe your husband could have an ampersand&? Mr Smith&Jones and his lovely wife Mrs SmithJones.

@Winkydink

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.

Me too. Sometimes it’s been a ballache, but nothing that can’t be solved by providing a marriage certificate.

I use both names interchangeably.

@SarahAndQuack

How does that work for people who have identical names?

That’s why a lot of people have middle names

[quote JudgeRindersMinder]@SarahAndQuack

How does that work for people who have identical names?

That’s why a lot of people have middle names[/quote]
You still have to be unbelievably sheltered to imagine your name is unique!

Imagine it. 'I bet I'm the only John Michael Smith born in 1976 in the world! I'm so special!'

@HairyScaryMonster

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

No not doesn’t.

I’ve been married twice. First time didn’t change a thing, always kept my maiden name.

This one, I liked his name more but only use it on certain things. Not my passport. One
bank account not the other. Some bills not others.

I was filling in a secondary school registration form for my daughter.
At her primary school I am Mrs Baron (same surname as her and my husband) but at work I'm Lucy Jones so I was thinking that in an emergency, if school were to ring work, and ask for Mrs Baron, know one would recognise that name. I was thinking it might be useful to know that I go by the names Lucy Baron / Jones.
I.e. Lucy Baron and or Lucy Jones.

You might find that you start getting post addressed as Lucy Jones Slash Baron esp if you have given the info over the phone😂😂😂

As far as I’m aware, a hyphen is used to join two words together to create one. A slash is used as a symbol for ‘or’. So in light of this, my answer would be no unfortunately.

@watcherintherye yes exactly. I am trying to convey that I go by either the name Lucy Jones and / or Lucy Baron.

@BoldMove haha, I quite like that 😂

@shouldhestay

I was filling in a secondary school registration form for my daughter. At her primary school I am Mrs Baron (same surname as her and my husband) but at work I'm Lucy Jones so I was thinking that in an emergency, if school were to ring work, and ask for Mrs Baron, know one would recognise that name. I was thinking it might be useful to know that I go by the names Lucy Baron / Jones. I.e. Lucy Baron and or Lucy Jones.

I had this with dd school.

I just put on the emergency contact ask for Mrs X (they new new be by Mrs eh h name - my maiden name which is ds surname but never mine as I was always just maiden name).

It was fine and the time he did break his arm at school and called me at work, they did ask for Mrs X. Just explain on the form and/or email.