Hyphenated Names

[YodasMummy]

So I was just looking at babyvote.co.uk and was surprised that about 1/4 - 1/3 of the names are hyphenated (Ellie-Mai, Ebony-Rose, Kaiden-Jay, Laci-Louise etc)

Obviously hyphenated names have always been around in some form or another (Sarah-Louise, Mary-Jane) but I was wondering why you think they have become sooooo popular recently. It looks like a baby Lillie (for example) would be more unique than a baby Lillie-Rose.

Just curious.

It's for lots of reasons. But primarily because names have trends. So atm just like old lady chic is popular (some would argue in certain classes), hyphenated names are also popular (again the same argument). See also the cutesy, twee type names which are popular atm (lily, milly, tilly, maisie etc) and the added bit on the end only intensifies this. Then there's the princessification of girls who I think are more likely to have a hyphen. And also the ready access to large amounts of American programmes means we see name trends moving more readily across the pond (same as surname type names ie Carson, Tyler, Carter, Mason etc).

Maybe people just cant decide or its a trend that will soon pass. Not a trend I understand either

My name is hyphenated. Im known as the full name but spend my life having people shorten it for no reason.

I have a friend named after her grandmothers, and has their names hyphenatened as her first name, but uses an abbreviation of the second one. It is along the lines of Amelia-Elizabeth, known as Lizzie (These are not the actual names or nn). The hyphenation was in order not to offend either granny by having one as a first name and one as a middle name. It was actually the "Amelia" granny who started the, "Lizzie" nn.

My parents just couldn't decide :D

I have a friend who has a hyphenated name. Both parts have different ways of spelling them and her surname has an apostrophe in it. it is a pain in the behind trying to email her!! I would avoid it :)

Both my DDs have hyphenated names and I didn't realise the controversy around the phenomena until I started mumsnetting a couple of months ago!

For us, name meanings are important. The secod part of the hyphenation adds meaning to the first part of the name. Also, the hypenation makes their names a little more unusual. I couldn't have had one daughters name hyphenated and not the other. Too much "she's got/not got one: why/why not me?"

DD1 is 3.5yo and mainly known by the full name, then shortened variations. DD2 is only 11wo but is referred to in full name and just first name.

I've noticed a lot of name snobbery (and even hatred!) around hyphenated names. I don't know why; perhaps it's because I hadn't previously realised how popular it was becoming, so it obviously irritates some.

But I, my DH and our family love their names :)

Just a point, OP: 1/4 - 1/3 beig hyphenated names would mean that 3/4 - 2/3 of names would be single names. Therefore, the hypothetical Lily would still be in the majority over the other hypothetical Lily-Rose.

Mamma tonic, I think you have a point, in that it makes usual names more unusual. Have you noticed that books often have really long titles these days? It is because the short ones have been used already, so to differentiate, longer titles are more common. It seems that there is a long term trend to use less usual names....in the past the top 10 names would have accounted for far more of the population than is so currently.... ( I think) and using a hyphenated name is another way of distinguishing your child, whilst using existing, beautiful names.

Ps has anybody noticed this phenomenon with boys, or is it just girls?

I know a couple of boys with hyphenated names, not from the same family (Tommy-Jay and Stevie-Joe) but it doesn't seem to be as common.