surname / first name confusion

[stinkypants]

If your surname could be a first name would you avoid a first name that could be a surname?

Yes. It'll be confusing on school registers and email addresses.

Yes.

So if my surname was George, I would avoid, eg, Thomas.

I know a bloke with two names that could be either, he hates it.

It wouldn't cross my mind.
I thought pretty much all surnames could be first names now.

Yes, I think it could cause a lot of confusion. Plus I really don't like surnames as first names.

Yes, definitely - too many opportunities for confusion.

This is us and yes we.

This is us too. Our surname is a very popular first name. DS name is always written or called out backside fore.

Yes I would.

I am a teacher and I have known a number of students whose names could be reversed. In fact I once taught James Taylor and Taylor James (not their real names!).

I think your surname is what it is, so if it is often a first name (like James or Jordan or Hannah - a common surname round my way) you need to make sure you pick a very clear first name, Remember names are often written backwards (eg in school registers) so Mackenzie Hannah appearing as Hannah Mackenzie will just be totally confusing IMO. Much better to play safe with Chloe Hannah.

There are very few boys names that are not surnames as well. Much easier to manage with a girl.

We did our best with our two boys, but we have a James / Jordan / Hannah / type surname.

We didn't think about it at all with our DSs. The surname would be a very old-fashioned first name so perhaps not that easy to confuse. So far in 6yrs there has only been one confusion I've been aware of, with DS1 as his first name is also old-fashioned.

Thanks for

Oops Thanks for the advice. It's really tricky as there are so many names that could be either and we're on ds 4 so feeling limited choice anyway!

If I liked a name I'd choose it. Its a bit silly rejecting a name you love and suits the baby to save confusion on a school register!

I know a little Parker whose surname could be used as a first name but with an 'S' on the end. Seems fine to me and everyone who cares.

Like bailey Thomas for example? Yes, I think that would be confusing.

I teach a boy whose name is a bit of a surname firstname type and to make it worse, there is a singer whose name is the same but the other way round ie firstname surname.

E.g. Boy is called Jackson Michael but I can't help but call him Michael Jackson!

I wouldn't do it, think of all those poor teachers!

Yes please avoid ds is in secondary school (year 7) and tells me that some teachers use their first name and others their last.

In his class they have one boy named (using example above) George Thomas and another named Thomas George.. Both answers when their name is called out.

I'm about to change my surname back to my maiden name, it's a first name. In school people would think I had double first name, Mary Jane for example, never bothered me, just said what my actual name was and that was that.

Personally, I don't see a problem with it. I have a male first name as a surname, and as OH and I aren't married, and our baby will have his surname, I've put my last name on the table as a potential first name. Although, he doesn't have a first name/surname situation with his.

Thing is with names these days, no matter what you choose, there is always a way for it to be ballsed up. My own grandmother has never spelled my name correctly in nearly 30 years, and it's not even difficult! Even my doctors have it down wrong. Sigh.

absolutely avoid if you have a surname that is more common as a first name than a surname, eg surname David, avoid a first name such as Thomas.

If your surname is also a common surname, eg Thomas is the surname, then you have less of an issue as people are less inclined to switch them round, but I would still consider it.

Thanks for all the tips. So the shortlist is down to two - the problematic surname-name which we really like and is reasonably unusual - or a fairly innocuous name which we quite like and which has no accompanying issues.
My dh thinks the surname thing is fine. I'm not so sure!!