How do double barrelled surnames work??

[dede124]

Hi everyone I need some advice... I want my baby to have both of our surnames but I'm unsure whos name should come first?? Is there any rules? Or what is most common is it usually the dads name first? Also what's the difference with hyphenated surnames?
Thanks x

I think it's "meant" to be the Dad's name first but there are no rules. We chose Dad's name first as it sounds better. There's no difference with hyphenated surnames...they're the same as double barreled.

John Smith and Mary Thomas have a baby

Baby's called William Smith-Thomas or William Thomas-Smith as parents prefer.

Thank you @Mrs that's really helpful x

I would go with whatever sounds best, to be honest. Try saying your baby's full name out loud a few times and see what sounds more natural. Often the shorter name sounds better second, but that's not always the case.

Even in the late 1800's there was no rule. The double barrel in my family is Mr first.

There's no rule. We are putting mum's surname first, no hyphen :-)

We’ve got mum’s surname - hyphen - dad’s surname

I don't think there is any rule, and I don't know anyone who has done it, but if I had to guess I'd say do it the way that sounds best and works best. Say them out loud and write them down both ways. I'm sure you'll work it out

It may be worth considering a short name for your child if having 2 surnames.

No rule, as pp have said.

For us it’s Me-DH.

As per PP there are no rules. We're both taking our surnames double barrelled after marriage so we'll be Mr & Ms WifeSurname-HusbandSurname

Ours just sounded better one way than the other, that's the only factor that came into it

"There's no rule. We are putting mum's surname first, no hyphen :-)"

If you do this, the child will be known as first name-dad's name by the time they are about 7.

OP- do whichever sounds best. Our children are myname hyphen his name because they flow like that.

I think longer syllable one sounds better first
Taylor-Brown
Harrison-Smith

We have mum-dad as it sounded best. Didn't look up if there are any 'rules'

It's up to you whose name comes first. Traditionally it'd be the mans, but it really doesn't matter. When I got married me and dh double-barrelled our surnames. We did my surname first and then his - purely because it sounded better that way.
For me the flow of the name is the most important, it shouldn't matter who'se name is first.

Whichever sounds better.

DS has first name>DHname>myname: 2 syllables + 2 syllable + 3 syllables.

He uses all 3. There is no hyphen (we are abroad).

I actually thought traditionally it was the mother's, but don't think it matters. We did myname-hisname as his name ends in the same letter mine starts, so sounds clunky the other way

My other half last name is his mum's surname then his dad's
It just flows better

Rhythm, just get the rhythm right.

Whichever way round sounds best