Why do people double barrel first names?

[FlawlessFuckup]

Inspired by the ‘somebody explain Nando’s to me’ thread to find answers to my own personal mysteries.

I just don’t get it. I think hyphens look ugly, and most people only get called the first half of the name anyway, Sofia for Sofia-Rose etc.

I personally feel hyphenating names with a made up misspelt half-name like -Mai is odd. But I find it even odder when people hyphenate two ‘normal’ names, that have no obvious connection to each other, like Sofia-Rose, to use the same example.

I just don’t get it. Could someone explain it to me? Why would/did you do this? Is it because you couldn’t decide between two names, or another reason?

You can still have to first names just put them together like sallyann or have the separate like Ann Marie you don't need a -.

'Isn't it common in France?'

My dad's parents were Mexican and he has a double-barrelled forename. Sounds lovely in Spanish.

I have a double-barrelled first name. Doesn't have a - .

Queenofwands exactly and my problem is my DD2 has a separate properly spelt first and middle name like you described and that people seem to be obsessed with mashing up by adding an 'ie and saying them as if hyphenated.

I am named after my grandmother, except her name was double-barrelled and mine is not. The second part of her name is my middle name so the only difference is the hyphen. I like it either way, I think it's prettier all as one name, but perhaps easier to have a shorter first name.
Both are very traditional names and I don't think it's remotely "council estate", but I guess it depends on the names you use.
I work at a law firm where most are oxbridge graduates and there are quite a few very posh women with names like Sarah-Jane or Marie-Louise etc.

I don't like it

It tends to result in a name that's less than the sum of its parts

Make up your mind which one you like best

thiskitten

Yes. It's not 'lower class'. bit it often sounds really twee.

Violet-Elizabeth Bott

It's ok in France - the limited choice of approved names etc.
In the UK, it's generally considered as not very classy.
I know a Jade-Emma and an Ellalouise. 4 fairly nice names ruined IMO.
Middle names tend to go in and out of fashion. Ann and Jane were popular when I was born, then it was Louise and now May/Mae, Rose and Grace are popular.

I don't like hyphenated first names for men,

Traditional in some countries, though no doubt a bit old-fashioned now. I know several, such as Marie-Paule (Belgium), Marie-Luz (Spain), etc.In my day, French school text books had regular characters called Marie-France and Jean-Paul. Ireland, too, as has been mentioned - Carol-Anne, etc. Also some of the Scottish islands - that's why you have Katie Morag, from the books, though I don't think that's hyphenated.

I hated it. It sounded so , council, for lack of a better word.

Seriously

I know a Fin-Leigh. How bloody awful, poor child.

Is Fin-Leigh a boy or a girl?

Amber-lynne is lovely.

Amber-Lynne or Amberlyn - both are lovely.

My parents did it because they wanted to and because they liked it.
Saying they look ugly is a bit ott though OP.

A boy. Not sure why they couldn't just call him Finlay/Finley. Their other son has a ridiculously spelled "normal" name too, though.

(Kahlumm)

Kahlumm should have been Kahlumm-Jay or something surely.
Is it pronounced Calum?

Jaiden-Kai needs a hyphen.

I live in a culture where the first and middle names are often used so I don't find it odd. I gave my kids middle names and 3 of my 4 children are called by both their middle and first names in school. It seemed odd at first but now it just seems normal. It's funny how your opinion changes with experience and strange becomes norm when all the other sheep do it. So now I can't bring myself to look down my nose at other's choices.

at Kahluum

I have 3 children none have a double barrelled first name, yet I was born and brought up in a council house!
Maybe I should add names on my dc birth certificate, I want to get it right!

*Kahlumm

My MIL is the poshest person I've ever met. She has a double barrelled first name, complete with hyphen. Neither name is Mai though.

So many Lola-Roses popping up amongst friends with grandchildren. I mentally start singing Lo- lo-lo -lo-la ( Kinks) when I hear it. A good guiding principle I think is don't just look at your adorable cute little bundle and think of an equally adorable cutesy name - think of how that is going to work in adult life for the . Does Dame Popsy-Woo Smith, Supreme Court Justice have the right dignity? I know an adult Dahlia and a Delphinium who are used to 'wha'? ' expressions on first meeting ( both shortened to Della) who regret their parents' whimsy.