To have a double first name or have as a middle name?

[GAW19]

We have fallen in love with a name but unsure if to double-barrel it or not.

Maisie-Ray

The more we say it, the more we love it all as one first name. She will have a 2 syllable surname beginning with W.

Thanks everyone

Do what you want, your kid. But just so you know I've taught countless double barrelled first name kids and every single one by juniors has just gone by the first part.

I wouldn’t, but that’s because I have a hyphenated first name and I have always hated it.

I agree, my DS was at school with two children like this and they both go by their first name now.
I always think that these double first names sound like they’re going to a hoe-down in Texas - sorry.

@Pamelaaaaa

Do what you want, your kid. But just so you know I've taught countless double barrelled first name kids and every single one by juniors has just gone by the first part.

I came on to say this, but see Pamelaaaaa beat me to it.

Middle name

What Fipperty said about the hoe-down.

Yep middle name and Rae only if you really must. It does sound like she's off to a hie-down.

Yee ha too. Sorry.

I think double barrelled first names can often come across as a bit......chavvy.....especially the rhyming ones sorry. There are some absolute horrors at DD school

Middle name.

Middle name. It’s a very unmumsnetty name so brace yourself.

I don’t usually say this, usually I’m in the call your child whatever you like camp but
I would struggle to take a professional adult seriously with the name Maisey-Rae. Up to you whether that bothers you but I don’t think mine would be a unique opinion.

Definitely a middle name. Anything with May, Ray, Rose or Grace is utterly, utterly tedious and so commonplace. Ray is a geriatric male name too.

There aren't a huge amount of thing I judge
But a double barrelled first name is one of the small things
Just no

Middle

It’s not good. Both name individually aren’t nice - and Ray is a boy’s name - but they are made doubly worse by hyphenating.

As someone said it is your child, but it made me think of Masie Raine.

I quite like double barrel names and think Maisie-Ray is gorgeous, but from my experience, nearly all of my friends that have had double barreled names have just gone with their first, except for my friend Ashleigh-Kate, she prefers A-K though! Hope this helps!

Think carefully- it's not really a 'baby name' you are choosing. You are naming a person for life. What might seem cute for a baby/ toddler/ young child might not work so well for the majority of their life as a grown woman.

Maisie is a lovely first name.
I think that Rae is usually the feminine spelling. I would have a middle name rather than double barrel.

I think a hyphenated first name gives off a certain vibe.

Can you imagine being a bank manager called Maisie-Rae?

It’s so cutesy and like an American kids show.
If you love it then have Rae as a middle name but you can call her Maisie-Rae as a nickname.

Personally I think Maisie is too twee for an adult but I appreciate there will be plenty of them in a few years time so perhaps perception will change. I guess she could go by May in the future if she wishes.

Try not to just imagine your baby as a fluffy haired big eyed ball of gorgeousness when you are thinking of her name. Picture her a strong suited woman commanding a room or in a boiler suit working as an electrician on a building site or in a lab coat or standing in the House of Commons. She won’t be your little girl forever and a name needs to carry her through life.

Hoe-down! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I actually know a Maisie-Rae. She's seventeen. She was just Maisie for hers and years but has reverted when she was about fourteen.

Rae is a very popular middle name and can very definitely seen as a 'filler name' like Grace and Rose. There are lots of Isla-Rae, Eva-Rae, Isabella-Rae type names.

Presumably your Ray is for someone you would like to name your dd after which is lovely.

If it was me, I'd choose a more grown up first name to counteract the Ray.

mine was a first then middle and I now go by a double barrel both .