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Original poster

Double barrel surname. Any experiences??

67 replies

Jellybabie3 · 24/09/2017 08:36

Me and DH have not been married long. I decided not to take his surname as i am quite attached to mine! MIL was instantly keen to know babys surname (i am 40+1) and me and Dh had kind of agreed (not telling her yet) that we would double barrel. Everyone thats asked about DS surname has made comments like 'you wouldnt do d-barrel....its difficult/wordy/awkward' etc so now at the 11th hour i am having a wobble. Does it really make a difference?? My name is quite 'English' DHs is not so it will be a little mouthful esp after a middle name like Clarke-Bronslik (i totally made that up so i hope it doesnt mean something rude) i also am conscious that puts my surname first....urgh family politics!!

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BoofayTheOompaLoompaSlayer · 24/09/2017 11:06

We've double barrelled. No issues here, except a really long signature.
Do what works for you and your husband. All my kids and I have a double barrelled name. Anyone who doesn't like it can kiss my behind!

C8H10N4O2 · 24/09/2017 11:26

Out of interest, which name to the anti double barrellers suggest you use?

Mehfruittea · 24/09/2017 11:42

I have double barrel and so does DS. DH just has his surname as mine is similar to his first name - think Doug Douglas.

The only issues I have is silly long email address at work that is also my username for everything, and having to always spell the full thing every time I ring a call centre.

And some idiots don't know what a hyphen is so tell me I don't bank with them when they take £000's in mortgage every month from me! Arghh....phew. Glad I got that out.

No problems though....

Poppyfields21 · 24/09/2017 11:46

I think ignore other people and call your child whatever you want. I do know some families where they've given both surnames but no hyphen and the children have picked for themselves as they've got older. This has meant that the boy has one name, say Green, whilst the girl is Clarke.
Something I do think about occasionally is if everyone starts double barrelling now, and the next generation get married and want to double barrel...will everyone have 4 surnames?!

Parker231 · 24/09/2017 11:47

We hyphenated DC's. I didn't change my name when we got married and we wanted DC's to have both our names. My sisters have done the same as have the majority of our friends.

TableMirror · 24/09/2017 12:09

I married someone who already had three surnames 😎 mine has been dropped and children only have a double barrelled one.

They're uncommon names so pronunciation and spelling are always a source of amusement.

NameChange30 · 24/09/2017 13:30

"if everyone starts double barrelling now, and the next generation get married and want to double barrel...will everyone have 4 surnames?!"

This comes up on every single thread. It's very simple. The child gets one surname from each parent. Either choose the names that work best together, the names that are easiest to spell, the names you prefer, or some kind of "rule" e.g. maternal grandmother's surname plus paternal grandfather's surname (or whatever combination seems fair).

In Spain everyone has two surnames. It's the grandfathers' surnames that get passed on to children, so not completely egalitarian or fair, but at least people aren't expected to change their names when they get married, and children share one surname with each parent.

MarklahMarklah · 24/09/2017 13:39

I have MyFirstname MySurname DhSurname, DD has DD MySurname DhSurname. No hyphen.

DeadDoorpost · 24/09/2017 14:58

I changed my name at 18 to my dad's double-barrel surname (huge story behind that) and I loved it. I got teased a bit for it sounding posh but that's how I wanted to be known.

At the end of the day, even if you decide not to go for a d-b name you can always give the option later on in life. Or the other way, so have the d-b name and let them choose as they get older. I was often only known with 1 of the names from the surname for years anyway so it's not uncommon to use it as and when

KalaLaka · 24/09/2017 19:17

It's a point of principle for me. My children could either have my surname or a double barrelled one (double barrelled it is!). I don't care if it's long, the traditional way is sexist and outdated.

NerNerNerNerNerNerNerNerBATMAN · 24/09/2017 19:38

We have a portmanteau surname, so a syllable from mine and a syllable from DHs. I didn't fancy a double barrelled name personally, bit had our portmanteau been ridiculous then I would have DBd.

Think Jedward instead of Jeremy-Edward (but more normal sounding!!)

WeasleyWoman · 24/09/2017 19:44

My DC are double barrelled weasley-husband. I am still Weasley and he is husband. I don't love the name but just mad sense to have them have just his name or just mine would be weird. I didn't do middle names though as would have been super long.

FuzzyOwl · 24/09/2017 19:47

I have my surname, DH has his surname and our children have both surnames. They don't flow well together but we are equal parents and didn't see why we should be compromising on either a new name or one particular name for the DCs. The children can drop one as and when they like and just keep both for formal documents if they wish. That's up to them to decide as they grow up.

NameChange30 · 24/09/2017 19:48

DS has a middle name (so four names in total) but his first and middle name are both short (one syllable each) so it's not too bad.

I have four names myself so whenever DH ranted about four names being ridiculous (he only has two) I gave him this face

I draw the line at five though. I think that would be too many!

MiniTheMinx · 24/09/2017 19:54

Double barrelled. Neither DC has complained. They have four names, bit of a mouthful, never encountered a form that leaves quite enough space to fill in their entire name but no negative responses from other people.

CamperVamp · 24/09/2017 20:01

My DC have hyphenated surnames. DHName-MyName because it sounds better that way.

It has caused no issues whatsoever, the kids love it, actually, having a name from each of us, they have a total of 5 syllables in their surnames, one name is very anglo-saxon, the other from another culture.

They all have simple first names and no middle names, but that's because we didn't see the need.

Everyone has an opinion. Mostly people seem to feel judgey about anything that differs from what they did. Your MIL may well be wondering if you are about to write your DH's name out and give the baby your name. If this is her fear, she may well be the type who only ever addresses her grandchild by half his/ her surname - like my MIL .

Ignore them all and do what suits you best.

CamperVamp · 24/09/2017 20:05

"I wouldn't, it seems to be a common trend with children of unmarried couples. People may assume you're not married."

Oh the horror! The Shame!

Sorry, this is funny.

Names bring out some right old fuddy duddies on MN.

NameChange30 · 24/09/2017 20:07

JaneEyre70 · 24/09/2017 20:09

I double barrelled mine for about 6 months, and got totally fed up with it so dropped it to just use DH's. It's a total faff and I got sick of spelling it over the phone!! I do miss my maiden name, but it's far easier that all 5 of us have got the same surname .

allthecheese · 24/09/2017 21:29

I have this exact issue, mine is also one english name and one difficult foreign name hyphenated together.

It goes against all my feminist principles but our DD will have my DH's surname, rather than double barralling. I just dont want to put her through the nightmare that I have all the time spelling my name (I double barralled mine when I got married).

BertrandRussell · 24/09/2017 22:08

""I wouldn't, it seems to be a common trend with children of unmarried couples. People may assume you're not married." We aren't married. Your problem is?

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 24/09/2017 22:14

We were unmarried when DD was born. She was going to just have now-DH's surname, which I intended to take when we got married, then I had a last-minute change of heart just as we were going in to register DD's birth, and wanted to double barrel.

It worked well for her, and then DH and I both decided to double barrel when we got married so we all have the same surname. I like it :)

MotherFromCatan · 24/09/2017 22:23

Fuck everybody else. I kept my name, DD has a double barrelled name, my name is foreign and dhs is a relatively common British surname so it's a bit of a mouthful like you say yours is but it's fine. Some of his family were not impressed, my nan thinks I'm odd for keeping my name but hasn't commented on DDs name yet. I wouldn't have DDs name any other way though, I love the fact that she has both.

DuggeeHugs · 24/09/2017 22:32

DSIS double-barrelled her name when she married and my DNs were given the double-barrelled surname when they were born a few years later. DBIL still uses just his original surname. It works well and she says nobody comments on it either way.

Give your baby the surname you want them to have.

fakenamefornow · 24/09/2017 22:47

My children are db with a hyphen. We both kept our own names when we married 20+ years ago. I find it odd that people complain about having to spell out their names to people, I have a very normal name, first and last, which is easy to spell, I still always spell it out to people hyping my name into a computer. I thought most people did this?

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