First names and surnames that bleed together - your thoughts?

[BettyButterknife]

Our surname begins with S and so far, I have left any first names that end in S (or similar sounds) off the list - I always thought it sounded a bit weak to have names that blur together (eg Laura Ashley).

But there is one name in particular I love and it would blur a bit. And several more I've dismissed outright and am now thinking I've been a bit hasty (particularly as I'm having a boy and I find boys' names really tough).

Do you notice the way a first and last name sound together? Would you dismiss a name because of this? Am I being daft??

no I don't notice unless it's something like "ben dover" no I wouldn't dismiss a name because of this. yes you are being daft - but in a good way

Dp's surname begins with a vowel, so we had the 'blur' problem with many of our original name choices. We chose to go with names that didn't blur.

You're going to have to tell us what the names are...

My first name and maiden name blurred together a bit. It did annoy me sometimes when having to say my name on the phone, making sure to put a gap between them to make it sound clearer. But I wouldn't want to have been given a different first name because I really like it.

I think if it's a name you really love, go for it. Could you give him a middle name too, just to break it up? I don't have a middle name, and the blurring thing was one reason I wished I had one.

For example, James Smith is obviously fine, but it feels a bit awkward to say and sounds like James Myth. To me anyway.

Exactly - I think it's quite awkward to have to carefully enunciate each name.

Erm, don't really want to put my actual surname here but it's not dissimilar to Stone. And the name I love is Rex. (But I'm not here for opinions on Rex - I know plenty of people think it's a dog's name!)

So, Rex Stone
or, in fact, Rufus Stone
or Horace Stone

Too awkward?

I think the 3 suggestions are too awkward.

Where I used to work, you had to answer the phone with your name and surname - phone rings, "Rex Stone". Imagine the child as an adult picking up the phone many times a day and having to say the whole name.

There are plenty of names you could use that sound better:

Daniel Stone
George Stone
Matthew Stone
Oliver Stone

My ds has a blur with his full name and surname when said together. It doesn't really work but we never call him by his full name so isn't really a problem. We also have an 'S' surname which is a pain as all my favourite boys names ended in 'S'!

Our surname begins with an 'A' and for that reason we avoided choosing names ending in an 'a' sound e.g. Hannah, Oliver etc. because they run straight into our surname.

I think the 'x' of Rex is okay but I'd avoid Rufus Stone, not least because it sounds like roof of stone. If your surname isn't actually Stone then it probably doesn't matter quite so much (unless it's steel, slate or some other material).

I would say don't worry about it. I thought about this a lot when thinking of names for DS - we also have an S surname, which rules out loads of great names if you're worried about this. Anyway, DH sort of has this problem with his name and it has never bothered him - in fact he'd never thought about it until I mentioned it.

I realised in the end that it's really not that big a deal. You don't actually use your full name together all that much these days. And if in later life he thinks it is a problem answering the phone "Rex Stone" (for e.g.) then I reckon he'll just find a better way of answering the phone... E.g. "This is Rex speaking."

It's a pain ... I spent my pre-marriage life with a forename ending in N and a surname starting with M (so not even a straight match) and it was quite hard to get my full name out coherently. But having said that, I wouldn't swap my forename for another one, and I rather miss my maiden name.

I have to deal with this as I married into a surname which doesn't go well with my first name.

Its a non issue tbh, I just say my name slower and everyone hears and understands it.

Don't let it stop you from picking a name you love. It really is over thinking it

This is a bugbear of mine too and I do avoid all first names ending in L. It would bother me.

We had a school trip to see the Rufus Stone at primary school...