Can we double barrel these surnames?

[spiderinthemirror]

We'd like to double barrel our surnames for our baby, and will take the double barrelled name ourselves when we get married.

However - I'm not sure we can make it work as one of the surnames is an O' name (think O'Brian, O'Conner, O'Malley type name).

The other surname is a simple two syllable name (like Davis or Johnson). Can you double barrel a name with the apostrophe?

Many thanks.

[TugboatAnnie]

Easier to go hybrid. Eg Damalley, Daconner, Jobrian etc. Gets rid of the awkward O this way.

[spiderinthemirror]

Thanks, that's what I thought. It sounds odd to me but it seems like the only way to go really.

[Jessbow]

Put th 'o' surname first

O'connor-Jones sounds better than Jones-O;Connor

[KirstenBlest]

I'd go for something like O'Malley-Johnson
Ditching the O' is a bit dodgy as it's losing part of the irish heritage of the name.

Would you ditch the Mc if the surname was McDonnell?

[firstcupoftea]

Oh so you think it could work ok double barrelled as it is? I'd much prefer that, I just haven't ever heard it before.

It may be a lifetime of nightmare form filling in through, with an apostrophe and a hyphen. Maybe it's silly and excessive.

[dmask]

Yes, I think either way sounds great!

[quietnightmare]

Yes it works either way around

[firstcupoftea]

Oh great, thank you, that is a relief ☺️

[BusySittingDown]

O'Malley-Davis sounds good! Or even Davis-O'Malley sounds fine.

[SleepingStandingUp]

I think Lucy O'Brian-Johnson sounds easier that Lucy Johnson-O'Brian which makes the Johnson sound more like a middle name.

[perimenofertility]

Either merge them into one name or just choose one. Double barrel is such a mouthful. What happens when your baby grows up and gets married - will their spouse tag on their name too for a triple barrel? O'Connor-Jones-Thirdname?

[Creepymanonagoatfarm]

Do it in alphabetical order. Whichever way that is!!

[SummaLuvin]

Just because you can, doesn't mean you should...

[Bubbleguppette]

I'm Irish so know a few double barrelled O' names...the ones I know tend to put the O' name first - eg O' Connor Smith. It depends on the names really, seems to work well if the second name is one syllable as above. Sometimes it's the other way around - there was a former Irish politician with the surname Cruise O'Brien. I agree with a pp that it can be harder to distinguish between surname or middle name in that case, but, again, it depends on the name.

I also know someone who has two O' names together, something like Lucy O'Brien O'Connor.

[ThisIsNotAFlyingToy]

I live near a shop with a Johnson O'Reilly kind of name and it sounds fine that way.

[MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake]

O'Connor Davis sound fine. I wouldn't bother with the hyphen.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

O’Leary - Johnson or something like that sounds OK, it would be less cumbersome if you dropped the O, but it’s OK anyway.

[Luredbyapomegranate]

@MissHavishamsMouldyOldCake

O'Connor Davis sound fine. I wouldn't bother with the hyphen.

I agree actually. Adds necessary complication

[buzzbuzzybuzz]

@SleepingStandingUp

I think Lucy O'Brian-Johnson sounds easier that Lucy Johnson-O'Brian which makes the Johnson sound more like a middle name.

I'd do it this way too personally

[Floomobal]

Dawn Porter changed to Dawn O’Porter when she married Chris O’Dowd. I’ve always thought that was great

[Bubbleguppette]

@Floomobal

Dawn Porter changed to Dawn O’Porter when she married Chris O’Dowd. I’ve always thought that was great

I thought it was a silly idea, and showed little understanding of the meaning of the O' part of a name. But they seem to like it and that's what matters I guess.

[DramaAlpaca]

Loads of people in Ireland combine O' names with other surnames and it works just fine. It's not 'awkward' as a pp says, it's just normal. Don't overthink it.

[EdgeOfACoin]

I knew someone who double-barrelled a name with O'Sullivan. It was fine.

I don't like the practice of combining a name (eg Marshall and Johnson to Marson). I feel that the name is a mangled surname which honours nobody's heritage. I appreciate that others feel differently!

[babyjellyfish]

I think you can double barrel them but I'd probably just use both without the hyphen.

Firstname Middlename O'Malley Johnson.
Firstname Middlename Johnson O'Malley.

[Cindie943811A]

I agree that the hyphen is just not necessary.
Context defines what is the surnames part of the name.
I have quite an easy name but there are 2 ways of spelling it and it’s never been a problem explaining this. DGDaughter has a double barrelled name but no hyphen.
Until relatively recently hyphens we’re rarely used with surnames.