First names with hyphens

veckia · June 2015

I'm interested in hearing practical suggestions for why this isn't a good idea. I can guess that it might be a hassle with paperwork?? Does anyone know for sure or have first-hand experience with what it's like to live with a hyphenated first name?

wassuphoes · June 2015

Not 100 on this, but I don't think you can do a hyphenated first name in the states.

veckia · June 2015

Oh, unless it changed recently, I have a friend in the states with a hyphenated first name. I already asked her, but I figured it would be good to get more stories and experiences.

MamaWren919 · June 2015

It's definitely legal. I've had a few students over the years with hyphenated first names. I think if you're going for a double name you should just use them as her first and middle names. That way she has the option of only using her first name later, if she wants. A name like Anna-Grace is fine, but I've known a Mary-Caroline and Kacy-Isabella, and that's just a mouthful! Everyone just called Kacy-Isabella Kacy anyway, so it's not like the hyphen is going to ensure people use both names.

bbiutmcph · June 2015

It's been brought up several times as well as double first names and the general consensus is always a big no. First and middle name and use both is the suggested go to.

Double names in general always just sound very religious to me. I think using both first and middle vs a given double or hyphenated name I just easier and leaves it more open for the child to choose what they prefer later in life.

lifeonthehill · June 2015

We have oodles of international students with hypens in their first names. It works just fine for them.

I do perfer the the double names without it though.

veckia · June 2015

I definitely see how it will be a mouthful and have no problem with people calling her by just the first part of her name, but I think it looks really pretty with the hyphen. Plus, I have a different middle name and I want to emphasize that the double name is the entire first name. I think it is a really pretty combo and that the effect won't be the same if I make it first and middle names.

christiel14 · June 2015

I have a hyphenated first name. I am named after my three aunts. It can be confusing for a lot of people. I often have to correct people for some reason. Also some places dont allow hyphens. I want to say the Fafsa form doesn't and if the name becomes too long with the hyphen some official paperwork will have to drop some letters. When I do taxes I have to drop two letters off my first name. All that being said, I don't mind having a double first name.

agerstner · June 2015

My sister has a hyphenated first name (Sara-Lyn) which I think it pretty. It can be confusing at times to remember whether it has a hyphen or not, or if the second part of the name is capitalized etc. in her case, Id probably have dropped the hyphen and combined the names but splitting them up is an option sometimes too.

hannakeegan · June 2015

I have a cousin named Mae-Bethany Grace and we usually just call her Mae. I think it works if the first part of the hyphen is one syllabl while the second is longer.

YogaSandy · June 2015

I don't have a double first name. However, my maiden name was St. Something. It was a nightmare returning to any place that enters your info into a computer. No one could ever find my records. Also difficult on forms etc. I could see a hyphenated first name being similar.

peachesnpearls · June 2015

No no no. Don't do it. What happens if she ends up hyphenating her last name! Too many dashes.

saham07 · June 2015

I think that it is nice on a girl. Mary-Kate, Marie-Grace, Anna-Kay, Anna-Sara are all people that I know. They have no problems with their names.

veckia · June 2015

peachesnpearls said:

No no no. Don't do it. What happens if she ends up hyphenating her last name! Too many dashes.

Ugh, yes, that is something I'm also considering. My husband and I each kept our last names. I'm fine with babies taking his last name, but he wants to hyphenate. Hyphenated last names just don't seem sustainable... What happens next generation when people with already hyphenated last names get married? So, I'm not sure what to do about that, but I agree that hyphenated first and last names would be a little too much.

sydneyellen · June 2015

Eh seems like a hassle, when you apply for jobs ssn verification can be difficult if every single thing isn't perfect. I've had people with issues due to hyphenated last name, I can only imagine how this could go badly.

LC122 · June 2015

I used to babysit a Sean-Ryan. The name suited him and was cute. I heard that a lot of the kids at school just called him Sean, but it was a thing too because there was a Shawn in the class too. Assuming, I'm recalling what a kindergartener told me 15 years ago.
Anyway, I think it depends on what the names are, how well they sound together, how long they are and how the name flows with the last (and maybe middle) name.

CaboBride2015 · June 2015

I wouldn't use a hyphen just because it looks pretty. If the two names work together just put them together or use them as first and middle and consistently refer to her by both.

LizWhiz87 · June 2015

I am not a fan of punctuation in names in general. It just feels totally unnecessary. I am not totally against the idea of a "double first name," although I prefer if it is the first and middle name and they just go by both. I am from the south, so it is not that uncommon, but I think to pull it off you need two really classic names.

4N6s · June 2015

It seems pointless.

lindsayTTC · June 2015

My friend is Marie-Danielle. She goes my MD, Marie and her full name. She's never had issues with it and likes it. Depending on where she is or what she's doing she sometimes just says her name is Marie to make it easy.
I also know a John-Michael. He always goes by his full name.

jessnjuan07 · June 2015

We are considering Juan-Luis if we ever have a boy. Both names honor special people. Middle name would most likely be Rafael. We have a shorter last name so I think it could work.

Mamabeagle · June 2015

I vote no. Just call her Mary Lynn and when she gets to school teachers usually ask what students want to be called and then it's possible to just keep the fn mn combo going. I have never found punctuation aesthetically pleasing, and even if I did I wouldn't put a ~ or { in my child's name.

DogLoverX3 · June 2015

I want to know why you can't just ditch the hyphen and capitalize the second name? Like SaraLynn or MarieGrace? I don't know anyone with a hyphenated name or two names for that matter, but just asking. Then, there wouldn't be as much confusion maybe!?

MixedBerries88 · June 2015

Hubs and I are considering a double barrel name for a son, but I think I may just do it Name Name Middlename Lastname. Hyphens are a mess and I think the no space looks like a typo.

groovylocks · June 2015

Uhhh.. so not that it matters but Facebook will reject it, if that helps.

I was thinking of names like Mary-Anne but i realized that Mary Anne is usually not hyphenated. Mostly because... well...

4N6s said:

It seems pointless.

Yeah. Like that.

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