Double Barrel Surname Initials

[LRBug]

Hiya,

We will be double barelling our baby's surname. DHs surname begins with a B, mine with a J. They flow better B-J rather than J-B, but I'm wondering whether having the initials BJ could be a problem? I might just be overthinking it though!

P.S. definitely double barelling so would really appreciate your thoughts on the above rather than suggestions about going with just one name/me changing my surname. Thanks :)

Hi. It's traditional to have the woman's surname first.

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How many syllables in each name? I think it sounds better to have the longer name first. I don't think the BJ thing is so bad.

No way to BJ

I knew someone at school like this - it was a minor running joke, but she was the type to laugh it off. Kind of depends on the kid and whether they can carry it off!

Yep another one here who agrees having BJ as part of your initials is a big no. It will crop up in the most unlikely places and people will notice.

I would also consider how you would feel if the child dropped to just one surname instead of using the double barrelled version. It is quite common to see both children and adults leaving off the last name as writing or using the whole name becomes a faff.

Possibly a problem at school.

For example, in my DDs class the surname initials are used in every day talk for two little girls who have the same name to avoid confusion.
One has a double-barrelled surname so
the teachers and children refer to one as Ava A-T and the other Ava G.

No way to BJ it’s a massive mistake. Any way of combining? I know a couple who turned Goode and Smith into Goodsmith

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I would avoid B-J if you can. Boys often get called their last name or a nickname based on their surname- DH is db'ed and he's known as his surname initials both at work and when he's with his old friends from home. He doesn't particularly like it and so I doubt encouraged it, so it seems this developed in both groups organically. Less of an issue with girls (who tend to use nn's less ime) but equally I wouldn't want to be a sensitive child starting secondary school and some little knob catching on to those as my initials.

If you hyphenate then wouldn't the initial just be "B" as it is then one name?

Thanks everyone for your thoughts- it matches my thoughts and sounds like enough people are thinking that it could be an issue that we should think it through very carefully.
I think Dh would prefer his name first (he doesn't think the BJ thing would be a problem) and his is name has three syllables whilst mine has one one so it does flow better that way around. But I think the J-B combo sounds okay as well and hopefully your thoughts here will be enough to convince him!
I would love to merge our names together, but one combination sounds silly and the other makes a rude word- not having much luck with our names!

Oh, and I wouldn't mind if they chose to drop one of the names in the future as it's their name so completely their choice. But I'd like them to have both when they are little :)

I'll make up names to fit and say what I think.
You are LRBug Jones married to LRBugDH Butcher.
You are going to have a baby soon and would like the baby to have a double-barrelled surname.
Lets say the baby is going to be called Rowan.
Rowan Butcher-Jones or Rowan Jones-Butcher.

The B-J surname is better here.

Options could be:

Not double barrel and have Rowan Butcher Jones
Use a new surname for the baby. e.g. Rowan Skywalker
(I wonder if there are any little Skyes with the surname Walker?)
Use a family surname (the mother's nan's maiden name or something)
e.g. Rowan Carruthers.

Personally, I would go for the not double barreled unless the first of the two surnames is unusual. Keeping the surrname as a mn will remove the B-J problem. I don't think B-J is a problem particularly but teenagers can be cruel.

My daughter has had several kids with double barrelled names in her class - they always get known by both initials rather than just the first.

E.g. Anna Preston-Jones is always Anna PJ.

I would avoid it if you possibly can

I'd avoid, there are two people with double barrelled surnames on my work team and they are referred to as Chris TM and Natalie CJ. I know a few other double barrelled people who do this also.

I wish I knew the names as I bet there’s a way to merge that doesn’t sound silly !

I used to work with a Barbara Jane. She was always known as BJ, and she totally owned it. She carried it off with aplomb.

It’s a risk though. You’d have to be a strong character, like her.

I agree with everyone else; I’d definitely go J-B. BJ is just too much of a strong Blowjob association.