Do surnames really matter when choosing a first name?

[merryfknchristmas]

The title says it all really!

I like unique names, really love them. I think the names we see as ‘unique’ now are our new wave of names.

By that I mean I believe names have certain waves so nowadays I don’t really see any baby girls being named Karen, Susan, Debbie or any baby boys being named David, John, Mark and so on.

I believe the new generation have names that seem different and unique! When I was named 23 years ago it definitely had people asking my mum “are you sure?!” And years on it became ‘normal’

I ask the title question as I feel like mine and DH surname would not suit unique names? Or many names in fact! It’s quite unique in itself, I’ve never heard anyone with our surname (even though I’m sure there’s plenty of people with it! Just don’t know anyone personally)

Do you factor in surnames when choosing baby names? Or did you pick their name just to be their name - didn’t change your mind based on surname or what the initials would be etc

A family member didn't consider their surname when they christened their daughter Jennifer.
I like that name but their surname is Taylor ( true story and I have mentioned it on mn before)
I do think you have to look at how the first name sounds with the surname. For example perhaps it's not a good idea to call your child Patti if our surname is O'Door.

If you ask on here, someone might point it out to you for example if you were going to call your DD or DS Patrick or Patricia and your surname was O'Door that they might get called Paddy or Patti.

Chances are that posters would say add a middle name or double-barrel the surname :-) .

OP, you might have a surname like Higham but love the name Heidi, or surname Lowe but love the name Arlo.

@Radiatornoise

My DD was at school with a girl called Holly.

Holly Wood.

So was I! I’m 34 though so there must be at least 2 of them... unless you’re my mum 😂

I have a cousin called Chris Cross. Her parents obviously thought her name wouldn't ever be abbreviated to Chris. She lost the name when she married.

I didn't agonise over how DD's name sounded with our surname, but I did factor it in. I already had a preference for names not ending in vowel sounds and doubled down on that because I don't think those names flowed nicely with the surname.

So I think it does matter, but bit necessarily very much?

Also I wouldn't have picked anything alliterative or that rhymed

I think it really matters.

If I had a long complicated last name I would have felt safe choosing a more simple first name. If my surname was Smith I definitely would have chosen a less common longer first name, a standalone name if possible so wouldn’t always need the Smith added on.

The whole name is the identity of the owner, not just the first or last. It’s really important.

What’s wrong with Jennifer Taylor @notacooldad??
I don’t get what’s wrong with Douglas Ian Spencer Grace either? @tattychicken
Am i being dumb here? 😅

Jenny Taylor = genitalia

@Waitingforamate I'm not sure about DISG (disk?) but Jennifer Taylor would probably be Jenny Taylor/Genitalia... kids are mean. That said, I went to school with someone called Joanne Card and I don't think anyone thought about it until afterwards - unfortunate when said aloud. I quite like unusual first name with sensible surname ala Sunshine Smith example from earlier (not that I'd choose sunshine myself) but we've dodged names that sounds too rhymey with our surname or the initials were best avoided.

I once lived near a Melody Wigston, which seems a good illustration.

Waitingforamate

What’s wrong with Jennifer Taylor @notacooldad? I have been autocorrected and posted without realising.
My relations name is Jenna
( when typing it again it kept autocorrecting jennifer)
Now put it with Taylor and see why it's not suitable.
I seriously haven't made this up for a laugh or troll.

D I S Grace.

That is quite a funny one. I used to work in an organisation that made our email addresses out of initial plus surname. I worked with an S Lavery and a P Amphlet.

I'd avoid anything that spells out anything dodgy(yes you Prime Minister and yes I know it's not his parents fault)
I'd avoid William Williamson etc regardless of how much o liked the name William
Alterations are fine.
Friend has a partner whose surname is Beech, o wouldn't pick Sandy.

But beyond that obvious stiff I don't think it matters.

Fjoridisaf Babaloninotious might be a bit too much so if surname is pretty long and and complicated I'd prob simplify the first name

Definitely factor in surname, it might change how first name sounds. Max, Lucas etc turn into Mack and Luca with our surname.

And if your surname starts with a vowel, make a note of how a name ending in a will create an eliding r.
Anna Edmonds will sound like Annar Edmonds when you say it, and people will think she is Anna Redmonds.

Well our surname is White so Isla was off the table.

I also like nature names but Winter had to go too. In fact anything which could sound like an adjective had to go otherwise they ended up sounding like a paint colour.

Surnames are important when thinking of names for your child or you might end up with a Mike Hunt, Ben Dover or Anita Mann

In the UK, my son's name is considered "different" and is quite uncommon (only 3 were born in the UK last year). We have had loads of comments that it's unheard-of, despite technically being of British origin. I am Canadian and knew a boy with this name as a child, and the name was used as a main character in a well-known film.

We absolutely took our surname into account when choosing a name. No rhyming, no rude initials, and no adjectives as our surname is a misspelled noun. Other than that, as long as it sounds good and we liked the name, no concerns!

If your surname is Hunt, don't call your son Mike.

@Eleanora8

Surnames are important when thinking of names for your child or you might end up with a Mike Hunt, Ben Dover or Anita Mann

Oh you beat me to it! Or Ivor Biggun

If you have a very common surname like Jones or Smith, I'd certainly avoid a common first name.

It can get very confusing being one of hundreds of Steve Smiths or Harry Jones!