Is it ever ok to hyphenate?

[MeantToStopAtTwo]

Are there any acceptable hyphenated names? Or are hyphens always a no-no?

How about Marie-Claire?

[nooka]

I think it is very naff, unless you are French or from other country where it is an established naming convention. Of course if you really want to make your children sound like hillbillies then that is entirely your choice.

[mathanxiety]

I love Marie-Claire and also Marie Claire, despite the magazine.

I love Marie Louise, Marie Therese (with or without the hyphen), Anne Marie -- and also Maria- or Anna- names [Spanish or German versions]. As Valium said, if it's French [or Spanish/German] or sainty it's fine. However, I dislike the -Mae names.

[babybear5]

why would the mind boggle???
compared to some names these days it sounds pretty tame...
It is not a colour, a flower , a season or a food but each to their own eh

[MitchiestInge]

It's not a traditional Catholic thing to use hyphens, I don't think, I'm a nyahnyahMaria but the Maria is just stuck on to make it all one word. Like Mariangela or Annamaria

[HengshanRoad]

Karla-Linzi. The mind boggles.

[mrz]

About 5 years ago we had a class full of girls with hyphenated names (think the Clampetts)

[oohlaalaa]

I went to school with an Emily-Jane, everyone called her EJ.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

No.

[ScrotalPantomime]

No way to Marie-Claire! Because of the magazine.

Generally I think it can be nice but I'd only use it for well-established double names IYSWIM? Like Anne-Marie. Not modern ones that seem to be just bunging any two names together regardless of how they suit each other.

I know a [something]-Beau at DD's preschool. Not keen (lovely girl though!)

You could just use the second part as a middle name. I have a DD called [something] May, but May is the middle name. Despite the face she was born on her due date at the end of June! (DSDs chose her name) I actually have a rhyme for her: [something] May was born in June, not a day too late or a day too soon :)

[exoticfruits]

I would think that something like Sarah-Jane risks being SJ.

[WorzselMummage]

Karla-linzi comes out as Kafka-Lines on my iPhone

I once had a friend who's siblings were all K names.

Katie, Kirsty, Keith, Kimberly and Kallum ( or Konnor )

I'm not a fan of hyphenated names. or mae/may/mai names. or entirely name up names.

[exoticfruits]

They will generally drop the second one when older-too much of a mouthful.

[shineoncrazydiam0nd]

Does it MATTER?

My almost 13 year old has a hyphenated first name - and it is very unusual - and yes, you lot would scream laughing, but I don't care

[Bucharest]

The Italians wouldn't hyphenate the 2 names. I don't think the French do either do they?

I think the old traditional Sarah-Jane etc is OK. Beyond that, not not never ever.

[exoticfruits]

I think it is fine when they are under 5yrs but ten they grow out of it-unless French.

[MinnieBar]

Only if you are French.

Are you?

[5GoMadOnAZ650]

I too have 4 girls with hyphonated names.

[DitaVonCheese]

Fine if you're French.

[EricNorthmansMistress]

[EricNorthmansMistress]

Babybear - Karla-Linzi.... < does that still work?

[valiumbandwitch]

Mostly no, but it depends imo, If it's French or Sainty then it's ok.

Anne-Sophie= ok

Sophie-mai = no

Charlotte-May = no

Anne-Charlotte = ok

Marie-Claire = not to my taste but ok

Marie-Louise = not to my taste but ok

this is just a feeling btw

[SilkStalkings]

What about just removing the hyphen alltogether and making up a new name? Is that naff?
Eg Carrieanne (as in Marianne), Sarabeth?

[Youcantaffordme]

Karla-Linzi

go on, then, what are the others?