Is this silly...

[LorryHen]

Giving a child your maiden name as a middle name?

I don't want to seem self indulgent, but me and OH aren't married (heathen) and I think it would be a nice way to link my name with my child.

The name we have picked is Joel Hughie Lastname...

My other concern is that my last name isn't common but it might be a bit chavvy as a middle name.

Any thoughts are welcome..

Its not silly or unusual at all. In fact it was a very 'done thing' in the past with girls as well as boys. Personally I think it's a lovely idea.

And no, it's not chavvy!

Totally acceptable thing to do.

Thank you for the reply! Yeah I think it is a lovely thing to do and I didn't think the idea was chavvy but my last name is the same as a clothing brand which sells chavvy clothes haha

It's the very opposite of chavvy...

Oh I wouldn't worry about that! I'm sure nobody will make that association.

No not chavvy at all.

Very common up until the 20thC. A lovely idea.

You could give your last name as their last name

The man's name does not have to be their last name

I'm married but kept my name and I think we'll be flipping a coin to decide whether children will be called firstname myname hisname or firstname hisname myname.

Wondering what your name is now.... Primark?!

No, it's a very acceptable thing to do

I'm interested in your last name too!!

I've done this. It's fairly normal in Scotland.

Hahaha half of it is in my username. It isn't Primark (thankfully) but there is a brand of horrible clothes with the same name.

Why not just give him your last name as a last name?

my siblings and I all have old family names as middle names.

quite unusual names and causes occasional raised eyebrows, but we don't care.

Or hyphenate?

Totally acceptable and a wise thing to do (especially if you don't share a surname). It is also very useful if you are are traveling internationally with just your child and you have no joint family name. Without it can be presumed you are no relation to the child.

Definitely acceptable, all of my mum's side of the family have done it.

It's a pretty common thing to do, especially in Scotland but I'd be more inclined to give your child both surnames.

Thanks for all of your suggestions and comments - very helpful.

I'll think about hyphenating, just not sure it'll work as OH's name is long and that's why I don't think it'll work as a middle name either.

My daughters (and me) have two surnames. Mine and DH's... No need to be a middle name and no need to be hyphenated

I think it's really nice! I didn't do it, but now I'm a bit sorry. My surname is rather...clunky, and my DH's is unusual too, and altogether I thought it a bit much for the children, although I've kept it myself - it is me after all! But when you consider that a middle name is kind of hidden, and not in everyday use anyway, I should have done it.

Interesting, TinyTear- why no hypen? And, out of interest, why doesn't your Dp have the same name as you and your Dcs?

no hyphen, with the hyphen you always have to use both last names. Without the hyphen you can use either last names or both.