Is it naff to call a baby boy my surname

[IDontLikeMondays88]

For example names like Christie, Nichol, Miller, Walker, Ellis are originally surnames and I know men with these names.

But would it be naff to call baby my maiden name? (Not one of the above).

Baby will take my DH’s surname.

@IDontLikeMondays88 personally I wouldn't, a colleague of mine daughter have her child her surname as a first name and i do think it's a bit naff as her identity is basically the last part of her parents. She doesn't even have a middle name of her own.

My DH is 4th gen of his name, he hates not having his own name (although that's plant because he doesn't like his Dad). We never even considered it for DS as a result!

My brother's first name is my mother's maiden name (minus a 's') and my son's middle name is my maiden name (minus a 's')
They both have their own identity 😁

I know someone who did this (she wasn't married to the baby's father but was engaged to him when the baby was born). The relationship failed and now she has a child that has the name of her current surname, e.g she's called Mary Harrison and her son is Harrison Smith. It's a bit confusing to be honest.

I think it's fine - if you look at some classic novels (Wuthering Heights is one that springs to mind), you will see examples where a man has a first name that is a surname from one side of the family.

Just don't do it. Unless your surname is Horatio or George or some such.

Parents are allowed to choose a name for their child.
If the name causes the child significant pain as an adult , they can change their name by deed poll.

Can't give an opinion without knowing the name!

@Echobelly
I think you mean Henchard.
Or Durbeyfield
Depending on how long you have to discuss
😂

@Nimello well my maiden name is actually a reasonably common first name - it is in the baby name book as an abbreviation of a reasonably common first name. So I guess it is similar to George.

I think it’s a great idea. Someone I know had maiden name Thomas and used as given name for son which I’ve always thought was brilliant.

Apologies, just don’t want to put my maiden name on Mumsnet as it would be outing

Perfectly normal in Scotland. More often used as a middle name but also used as a first name. My DH's first name is his mum's maiden name (perfectly normal name) His middle name is his gran's maiden name. We almost used another relatives surname for both DS1 and 2, changed our mind but nothing to do with them being family surnames.

Miranda did this in Sex and the City! Her little boy was Brady Hobbes

Great idea

Think ahead to if you will have more children. We gave DS1 my surname (married but didn't change my name for anything) as a middle name. Not double barrelled. Along came DS2. Ah, how do we make it so that DS1 wasn't favoured? So now they both have the same middle name.

But that’s what I’m saying, OP. If you like your name, don’t change to your husband’s, and use it yourself. Your baby can use yours or both surnames, and merits a first name of his own.

But I do use it myself, I use it at work.

When my Grandad, my Mum's Dad died and as she was an only child her maiden name would have died out. We decided to give our only son her maiden name as a middle name so that the name would live on in some way. At the time it meant more to my Mum than to my son, however he is due to get married (cancelled and rearranged due to Covid) and will use his full name at the ceremony as well as using my Grandad's wedding ring which my Mum gave him as his wedding ring.

You sound pretty sane, OP, and I therefor doubt that you'd be calling your son Jackson or Harrison. That being the case, it's probably ok.

^therefore. Not therefor
!

@purplerainn people can be married and have separate surnames. It isn’t compulsory to change your name upon marriage and therefore you don’t need to clarify they aren’t married, the statement could just be they have separate surnames.

OP, I think if the name works as a first name then I don’t see why not. If we have a son, the surname will be DH’s but my surname will be a middle name (can also be used as a male forename). I love it as a first name but we have a friend with that name and we’re trying to it use names already in our circle to avoid possible hurt feelings. In that instance the middle name will definitely be after me rather than after a friend.

Yes, I think it would be naff, one of my cousins did this and it still sounds naff now.

But that shouldn't matter to you one bit. If you want to do it, just do it.

My son has his father's surname unfortunately-we're not together.
I was the last in my family with my surname, I was devastated that it would stop with me but my ex wouldn't let me give our son my name so he has it as a second middle name instead, but he knows he has to give any future sons the name too!!! 😂 😂 😂

Someone I know had maiden name Thomas and used as given name for son which I’ve always thought was brilliant.

Then we might know the same person. I also used to know a Blake who was named in the same way.

My Dad’s family often used to use the mother’s maiden name as a middle name for boys, although my grandparents’ generation seems to have been the last to do it.

James cordon and his wife did this

I think it's quite sweet.