Maiden name as a first name?

[HashB]

We have really struggled with names for boys. Hayes is my maiden name and will ‘die out’ this generation as we’re a family of girls and no one kept it. Would it be strange as a first name or is it better saved for middle?

Yes, it would be strange as a first name but fine as a middle name.

It's a lovely name, it would be a lovely middle name, but could definitely work as a first name also

You can all use Hayes as a surname, surely?

(Why on earth women are changing their names in this day and age is absolutely beyond me.)

Everyone makes their own choices. Would be a boring world if we all agreed.

I'm not keen on Hayes as a first name. There are a lot of surname names around though so it probably would stick out as unusual.

If it were me, I'd double barrell the whole families surnames. It'd be a shame for your surname to die out because of ancient sexism!

Quite. (Current sexism too.)

I think fine as first, middle or as part of a double barrelled surname depending on what that surname is.

I think double barrel is good idea.

Although I also think you could use as a first name. My son is called Tasker which is an old name often a surname but can also be a given name.

I quite like it to be honest.

Though you can of course keep your name and give it to your children or go double-barrelled.

Would you choose it if it wasn’t your surname?

I’m guessing not, because it’s really not very nice as a first name.

Fine to change your husband’s surname if that’s what you want, but don’t make poor choices for your child because of that

I like it and it could work as a boy or girl first name. Ignore some of the earlier posters encouraging you to retrospectively double barrel your last name!

Hayes is a lot more interesting than Isla, Luna, Olivia, Theo or Oliver.

I quite like it as a first name.

Just use it as a surname, why should your name die out? You literally grew the baby compared to your husbands minimal contribution

Great as a first name.

Quite normal in Scotland to do this - move here!

If it wasn’t important enough to you to keep it yourself on marriage, I don’t think it’s fair to saddle a child with it just to keep the name alive.

If you would genuinely choose it above all other names regardless of the maiden name factor then sure, use it, but it doesn’t sound like this is the case.

Make it a middle name and pick a first name that you love on its own merits.

Wouldn’t it be confusing?

”Come on, Chloe and Smith, we are off to visit Grandpa Smith?”

(I always wondered this about Miranda Hobbs calling her kid Brady Hobbs and then getting back together with his dad Steve Brady… huh)

Yes to this name. It continues it, which will feel good too. I did it with a middle name. Some names don’t work but Hayes is a bit of an American sounding first name and I like it.

I'm a bit surprised by all these comments. Hayes sounds quite nice to me, especially when you compare it to some of the ridiculous names parents saddle their offspring with nowadays. It will still die out though as a surname for your family. Double barrell sounds like a good idea.

Why not? That's how names like Lincoln, Harrison, Finley (all young boys that I know) originally became first names. In Victorian times it was very common for the firstborn son's name to be his mother's maiden name.

Boy or girl?
Weirdly we currently have a small boy in school called Hayes. Family comes from Hong Kong.
No idea where they’ve got it from.
It’s unusual obviously and could have several spellings. I’m not a huge fan personally.

I rather like it.
I have an ancestor whose first name was Sharples, which was probably harder to live with.

Awful as a first name. Maybe if you were that bothered about your surname dying out you should double barrel.

Hayes as a first name for a boy sounds fine to me. I mean it’s not my personal taste (as I tend to like classic/ timeless type names) but I’d far rather hear Hayes than a random occupational surname or “Son” ending surname as first name that half the rest of the boys in his class will have. Hayes will fit in fine and at least the name has meaning to you.

I like it! I know three different people with maiden names Coley, Wood and Smith and they have sons named Cole, Woody and Smith.