Would you use a surname as a first name of your surname can also be used as a first name?

[ineedamoreadultieradult]

If your surname was a name that gets used as a first name such as Harrison or Spencer etc would you use another surname as a first name or would that be a bit odd. So for example Taylor Harrison or Spencer Carter?

No, I could see that being a bit confusing, he'd spend his whole life correcting people.

I wouldn't, no. To me, both of the examples you've given sound a bit like an Accountancy or Solicitors firm...

My DS has one of the above names as his first name and our surname is a very common boys name.
It's absolutely fine.
On the very odd occasion (perhaps handful) in his 19 years we've had to correct someone but as he goes by a shortened version of his first name its only at places like GP or somewhere where they are reading name off a list.
It definitely wouldn't stop me using a name!

That was my thoughts. DH thinks it would be fine but I was thinking it just sounds like you are referring to them by a double barrelled surname.

Hmm - both those examples don't sound too bad to me, but I knew a guy once called Chris George who was forever known as "the boy with two first names" so maybe it would be a problem!

Ah X post with mumsiedarling yes a shortened form of the first name would make it seem less surnamey.

Yes.
Myself and DP both have surnames which are also common first names, mine is a very female name and DP's is very male.
DS has a first name which is both a surname and first name, along the lines of James, Joseph. He has both our surnames.
To be even more awkward his middle name is a surname.

Ha we have a first name first name-possible first name (think like harrison taylor-walker) and have sometimes had dc referred to as sawyer walker completely leaving out the first name I think it's not that often that you really get referred to by your full name anyways so doesn't really matter if you love the name. Maybe add in an obvious first name as a middle to break up the sound?

I know someone called Lucas Lewis and always get his names the wrong way round.

I'd avoid it like the plague

But then, there are people with surnames like James and Adam. Don't they have the same problem in reverse?

We did this! Our surname is a popular boy's firstname and DS2's firstname is a very unusual name that is often a surname. Wouldn't change it for the world. Only place that gets mixed up is the doctor's surgery! Everyone else knows us and it's never been an issue.

I've come across a few of these in my time (teacher!) and I must admit my brain does struggle with them: "is that kid Spencer Taylor or Taylor Spencer?" However, this may well just be my issue!

I'd feel sorry for my kids If I did! Boardman Boardman! LMAO! I wasn't blessed with the best surnames (birth and adoptive, God must have really had it in for me!)

It's actually not that uncommon in Scotland where there is, in some families, a tradition of giving a family surname as a first name.

As far as I can see it's occasionally confusing but not that big a deal.

My sister gave her DS our surname as his first name, and then DP's surname. Still think it is a bit weird, but it suits him!

If you think about it Campbell, Cameron, Fraser, Donald, Murray etc all started out as surnames and are acceptable as first names. Even MacKenzie is becoming quite common.

I think it's fine
But then I do live in Scotland and a lot of trad scottish boy's names are both. I know a Harris Gordon and a Gordon Harris!

I know a few people with names like this and they sound fine. Their names are all very solid, typical English names too (rather than something that may sound a bit more American). In fact one of them has the first name Thomas, while it's the other's surname! The only major issue they have is people using the wrong name when their name shows up as Surname, First name on emails.

I have - so long as the two names work well together I can't see a problem. Never been an issue for my 6yo DS so far. It might help that our surname is a name that is quite rare as a first name these days!

I do actually know a kid whose name is either Owen Lucas or Lucas Owen.

Sometimes I think I've sorted it out, and then I forget again which way round it is.

My DD went to primary school with a girl called Morgan who had two surnames. She sounded like a firm of Solicitors or chartered accountants, e.g. Morgan Taylor Edwards.

Hahaha, my son is a Carter and my brother was a Spencer.

And yes, my surname before marriage was a male firstname/surname so my brother was forever being referred to as Surname, Spencer which he corrected but I don't think it was that much of a big deal to him.
He loved his name, my parents saddled him with an awesome one! Spencer, middle name 1, middle name 2, middle name 2, SURNAME.

I have 2 sons both with surnames for first names but we have a Scottish surname (which could also be a first name I guess but most people here would assume surname).

I live in the US and it is very common here. We know children with Christian names like Harrison, Taylor, Preston, Smith(!), Lincoln... My children do not have names like this! I think it's awful! Incidentally, Preston is considered very 'preppy', so rather like Sebastian in the UK.