Name format

[nameanxiety]

Hi!
I'm struggling to find an answer to this!
I know generally speaking, people are given a first name and a surname, with maybe one or two middle names.

Are there any other formats of names we can choose?
For example, choosing a double barrelled middle name would be one.
Just trying to find a way to make our little one's name a bit more interesting as it's not very!

Thanks!

Well it makes very little difference.

On the birth certificate it will just have the "first names" listed and the surname.

If you want a Sophie Mary-Jane Smith JONES.

Go for it.

But 99% of the time your child will be called Sophie Jones. 🤷‍♀️

Don't really understand the question. Some people are called by their middle names. So the format would be (often) family name-known by name-surname. But I don't think that makes it more interesting, just a bit annoying?

I don't think hyphenating adds interest. In most cases it just tackifies a name.

You can have a double-barrelled middle name if you like, you can have names consisting of every surname of the players of your favourite football team if you like. Just bear in mind that as a parent your life includes filling in A LOT of forms on behalf of your child and so my advice is keep it simple. Meaningful is fine, but don't go overboard.
(Also, names are only interesting to the parents, nobody else cares!)

Pick a name that is more interesting.

Double-barrelled middle names look like you couldn't choose, and the older siblings only had one middle name.

Something like Olivia Lily-Rose Smith looks tacky, and Plant-Plant is naff.

I don’t think having an “interesting” name format will be an advantage to your DC, personally

I dislike hyphens.

If you think the name is boring, change it! Millions to pick from, choose a good one!

No one except you will care of it's interesting or not. My kids have a surname as a middle name as it's one that is important to my family. My family are pleased it's being preserved but no-one else will care.

I dislike hyphens too.

My maiden name is a very old double-barrelled name from the 16th century. I cringe when i hear the made up ones, both first names and family names nowadays.

Don't try too hard. It doesn't actually make your child any more special. They already are.

Names have got boring since they started to be formally recorded. The use of computers added another layer of rigidity.
Variations that databases struggle with include:
No surname - yup, it's a thing.
Religious names like "Sister Teresa" previously Jane Smith
Names with words like Mac, Nic, Maol, and Giolla
Names registered in another writing system, that doesn't have a standard transliteration - funfunfun!
Patronymic and Matronyms in addition to formal surname but not as middle names
The rather dull "surname first" format, which becomes exasperating when someone enters lots of names the wrong way round and I have to sort them out
Names in tonal languages as the formal name, but person known by a completely different name.

Not sure if that's what you had in mind @nameanxiety

Why would sticking a hyphen in between 2 middle names make the child's name any more interesting?
Just give your child a nice name that they won't have to spend their life spelling to people, instead of trying to be quirky and or different.

@Iminaglasscaseofemotion

Why would sticking a hyphen in between 2 middle names make the child's name any more interesting? Just give your child a nice name that they won't have to spend their life spelling to people, instead of trying to be quirky and or different.

This.

Younique names are best avoided.