Is this double barrel cruel?!

[nellyelle]

I didn't change my surname on marriage. (Surname similar to McKinley.)

DH also didn't change his surname on marriage. (Surname similar to McDade.)

Is it really awful to burden our child with the double barrel surname "McKinley-McDade"?! I always assumed it would be out of the question, but now that I'm pregnant I find myself considering it....

I know it's cumbersome and doesn't flow well. However, I also know both our families are very tight knit, with strong identities, (partly why I didn't change my name in the first place!) and I think it is important for our baby to identify with both equally.

(I did think originally maybe it's a better option to middle name McKinley, but I'm not sure.)

Talk me down please 😂

You really can't do that to a child, please don't do that!

Hmm its not terrible. It is a mouthful. Id say keep first name simple

Eva mckinley mcdade
Leo mckinley mcdade

I wouldnt have
Aurianna mckinley mcdade for example

But why not

I think it's actually quite cool!

Double barrel names tend to be naff at the best of times. That would be an eyebrow raiser. Having one as a middle, family name would be better.
If you must, could you drop one of the Mc’s. So McKinley-Dade?

It's a bad idea. The child can still use whichever surname they like, but the combination of both sounds odd.

As someone who grew up with long double-barrelled name and couldn't wait to change it, I wouldn't.

Use one sir name as a middle name? Therefore, you retain the name, without making it difficult.

Could you do something like amalgamate the surnames and end up with ‘Eva McKinley-Dade’? Depending what the names actually age of course...

I don't think it's too bad. Dc don't use their surname much in primary school anyway (when it would be most problematic) so if it means so much to you I'd go for it.

I think it sounds good actually! I agree you want a short first name to go with it though.

Just amalgamate the name McDaley.
Or even change all your names.

If they are both Mc surnames I would drop one Mc

I think that the particular combination of McKinley-McDade is fine. However I'm also a big fan of unusual middle names, so using one as a middle name is an appropriate compromise.

Yes, I would either drop one of the Mc's for double-barrelling or use one surname as a middle name.

I wasn't married when my eldest was born, but we didn't double barrel because my surname was a verb and DH's can also be a first name, so it would have been very unfortunate 😂

Surname as a middle name is very normal practice in Scotland. Double barrelling traditionally wasn't. One of the surnames as a middle name is the perfect solution.

I'd drop the Mc from one name and use it as a middle name - not double barrelled e.g. Eva Kinley McDade.

@Standrewsschool

Use one sir name as a middle name? Therefore, you retain the name, without making it difficult.

Yes do this

I don't think it's impossible.

I was in a similar situation, and in the end just gave the baby her father's surname. There was a middle name that was really important to me from my side though, so that was my compromise with myself (husband was happy with whatever).

I do kind of treasure the three days in hospital when she was Baby MyName though... That will always be her a little bit too!

To be clear, I don't think the double barrel is impossible. I just didn't do it in the end!

@CherryRoulade

Double barrel names tend to be naff at the best of times. That would be an eyebrow raiser. Having one as a middle, family name would be better. If you must, could you drop one of the Mc’s. So McKinley-Dade?

Yes, this is exactly what I was going to suggest, drop the Mc on whichever name goes second and it flows much better

As someone with a hyphenated surname (I don’t like the term double barrelled) I love my surname and would never change it.

My surname is also quite long but apart from the problem of it never fitting into the allotted space on forms it’s never been an issue for me.

I insisted DS have my surname because that’s how strongly I feel about it.
I don’t care if people think it’s naff, I love my hyphenated surname.

It does sound to me a bit like a firm of Estate Agent or Solicitors.

BUT if you and DH are Estates Agents or Solicitors it could be a great way of promoting your business!

I'd give one surname as a middle name too, or even first name if that works

I'm not overly keen on awkward double barrel, it used to be posh, these days it's more about people wanting both their names in the mix - I guess it's a bit like the Spanish culture - progress maybe? But two Mc names don't really go

Katarina Johnson-Thompson has managed ok. I remember thinking that was weird at first but the more you hear something the more you get used to it. I didn’t double barrel my name for our kids and wish I had.

Be aware that, whenever you travel overseas (whenever it's allowed again!), you'll probably be asked at border control for the child's birth certificate every single time, as their name will be different to both yours and your husband's name.