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Opinions on double barrelled first names

52 replies

user1489781128 · 17/03/2017 20:18

My boyfriend really likes the name Chloe-Grey as a double barrelled first name but I'm not too sure. I wouldn't mind Grey as a middle name though.

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Gallavich · 26/03/2017 15:32

There are names that get more popular amongst different demographics. So the atticuses and the Romans and the Gabriellas and the Arabellas are popular in middle-upper middle class circles, and the lily-maes and Jayden-joes are more popular in working class circles. That doesn't make them bad, just more popular in those demographics.
If you want a name that signals that you are middle class or aspiring, avoid a double barrelled unless it's a classic like anne-Marie.
Personally I really hate double barrelled names not because of the class association but because I think they are cutesy and infantilising. They are used for boys but it's mainly girls who get the flopsy-rai-mai-jai type names and I just think it's setting them up to be viewed as less serious than other women. When you add in potential social-economic disadvantages too it's a double whammy of crap for the kids.
Chloe is nice enough but pretty common, and Grey isn't a first name. People would assume she's Chloe Grey-Smith rather than Chloe-Grey Smith.
There are so many unusual and lovely names out there. Don't go for the combination of boring+random shoved together with a hyphen.

Mrsknackered · 26/03/2017 22:11

My grandma is Mary Jane and she never knew it was slang for cannabis until I told her a few years ago.
Sarah-Jane, those kind of classics are acceptable IMO but I've seen Kayleigh-Laura, Sienna-Aaliyah and Amelia-Lily, it's ridiculous. Pick one name!

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