Are hyphenated/double first names really that bad?

[VanillaV]

We're considering choosing a hyphenated/double first name for our daughter. My husband loves many of them, and they have grown on me. I know that they're viewed quite negatively and generalised as being chavvy in the UK, but my husband is American so he's unaffected by that association. He has known many lovely people with double first names throughout his life (Emma-Jean, John-David, Mary-Grace, Rae-Ann). If we choose a hyphenated name, we intend to call her by the full name at all times. I guess I just wonder how disliked hyphenated names actually are and if they're a major inconvenience.

I've listed all of the names that we're considering below, and I'd like to get everyone's thoughts. We want a name that fits in both the UK and the US.

HYPHENATED
Anna-Kate
Anne-Marie
Joy-Anna

NOT HYPHENATED
Alaina
Camilla
Galilee
Jodi(e)
Julianna
Katherine
Lori
Lorraine
Madeleine
Rosemary
Stella

I like them all apart from Galilee and Lori

You can call her the full name but you can’t force others to do the same. If people shorten even single names the second name will inevitably get dropped.

There are some names that no longer use the hyphen, eg I’d spell it Annemarie rather than Anne-Marie personally. They are ‘classic’ double names and are considered differently to names like Jodie-Mae in the UK.

I think I’d go for something like Julianne/Julianna/Marianne/Rosemary rather than hyphenating but it depends on whether you’ll be living in US or UK.

I think hyphenated names sound best when it is clear they are two separate names

Ann-Kate sounds like one word , like ‘annotate’ , Joy-Anna the same, as if it was Joyanna.

Anne-Marie lovely.

Other names fine except Galilee . Which apart from anything else would be shortened to Galli, which is unattractive, IMO.

I never knew they were viewed negatively before I came on mumsnet!
I quite like Anna-Kate.

Some of your list does seem quite dated to me- especially Anne-Marie, Jodie, Lorraine.

I like Katherine (also dated but classic so still a few around and just a nice name), Madeleine, Julianna, Camilla. Not a fan of the others.

I would consider the fact that about half of the adult population simply doesn't seem to understand the concept of hyphenated names. I know an Anne-Marie that is often called Anne (after introducing herself as Anne-Marie) because people cannot grasp the fact that Marie is actually part of her first name and isn't her middle name. I'm assuming that there are also some that just don't like hyphenated names so they refuse to call those with them by their full name. I'm thankful that I don't have a name like this because I would hate for people to think that part of my name is optional.

My favourites are Jodie, Julianna, and Rosemary.

I hate them sorry OP - what’s the point? Too much of a mouthful, most people will only say the first of the two names anyway. Especially something like Anna-Kate which isn’t a popular combination, unlike something like Sarah-Jane or Anne-Marie which are common. Just call her Anna Kate if you like those names and save everyone a headache.

I think Stella is a name for a cat - the rest are fine I guess albeit a bit old fashioned.

I like some two-part names but I don’t like the flow of your suggestions and the hyphen looks a bit ugly to me. Just have a space between. Also you should consider initials. AK is not great IMO - makes me think of the guns.

I couldn’t care less about people’s idea of class. My daughter’s name is always labeled lower-class on mumsnet but I think it’s beautiful and live that the popularity has been pretty steady and outside #200 as far as records go back on the trend trackers. It also works internationally.

Think about what’s important to you. I think it’s lovely to have a link to your husband’s heritage.

I find double names more attractive when the hyphen is not used. Why is the hyphen needed?

I know women with first names of..

Mary Ellen
Sue Ellen
Anna Joy
Mary Grace
Rosemary
Mary Rose
Sally Anne
Pollyanna
Marie Claire
Annemarie
Marianna
Wendy Joy
Briellen

I just they’re very over used. Every other girl seems to be an Evie-May or Lily-Rose or Ella-Rose, Ellie-May, Gracie-May, Darcie-May, Ella-Grace. It’s very dull as it’s the same names. I like Anna Kate though.

As a pp said, you can’t make people say the full name, especially if it’s something long. Your DD may even shorten it.

They tend to be very twee. Your suggestions aren't, but they are a bit clunky instead. Anne-Marie works, Anna-Marie is awkward.

I like all of your full names, except Galilee. Stella, Camilla, Madeleine and Rosemary are my favourites.

I would hate to have a hyphenated name myself, so dislike them. I find it clunky to say two names all the time. A cousin of mine with a hyphenated name has been known by only one of them since she was about 5.

Thoughts on your other names

Alaina - Eminems adopted kid
Camilla - classic
Galilee - interesting, most of MN will hate this
Jodi(e) - not keen
Julianna - beautiful classic
Katherine - Woman in her 40s
Lori - like
Lorraine - again woman in her 40s
Madeleine - okay, bit overdone
Rosemary - awful old fashioned
Stella - good strong name

Joy-Anna just sounds like Joanna so I’d go for that. Galilee just reminds me of the Sea of Galilee 😂. Katherine is my favourite and I like the nickname Kat.

I don't mind hyphenated names, I just find that a lot of them don't actually go together.

I like Rosemary from the names you've listed, it can give the impression of being two names and they go together.

My daughter’s name is hyphenated but she dropped the second name aged 6.
It’s not a problem and we all call her one name now, she has a grandaunt who uses her full name which is nice.

The issue I have with hythenated names is they date and very much of their era, I was born in the 60s and Anne-Marie is very much of my generation. Then there were the Sarah-Louises and Emma-Janes of the 80s/90s. Now its the Ella-Roses and Hannah-Graces.

Think it depends on the names you hyphenate. If it’s…you know Kaydee-Lee or something then yes, people will probably pre-judge.

On the other hand, I know a Nancy-Jean which I think is lovely.

Katherine is very definitely a name of a woman in her 40s (although it's classic and not unheard of either older or younger) but Lorraine is not a woman in her 40s. I'd say in her 50s minimum, more likely 60s. (But I agree, very unfashionable/dated for a baby either way!)

Please please don’t! I know of a lovely highly educated lady in my firm but I struggle to say her name. Equally it depends on the names you choose. I know an Anne-Marie, lovely. Something-Rose, not so much.

This makes me quite sad for her. In the vast majority of cases, you should call someone by the name that they're introduced to you as. It's common decency. I've never understood why someone would attempt to shorten a stranger's name immediately upon meeting them.

Anna-Kate - sounds like annotate
Anne-Marie - lovely but a bit dated
Joy-Anna - sounds like Joanna

I really like all your other ideas, except Camilla and Galilee. Madeleine and Rosemary are my favourites.

Don’t do it! Mine is the bane of my life.

The only hyphenated name on your list that flows is Anne-Marie. I’ve known a few and they’ve always been called by both halves. I’m 55 with a hyphenated name and it’s never been shortened (or if it has, I politely say I’m always my-fullname and people use it). Mary-Kate goes better than Anna-Kate. Agree with Marianne and I also know a Carrie-Anne.

I know a Billie-Jo. Sounds like a country and western singer.

I always think when it comes to naming kids think: could they be prime minister with a name like this and be taken seriously.

which knocks out a lot of names especially ones like Chardonnay and kylie!