name hyphenation?

Question

I know that with a hyphenated name you can actually drop one of the names and strictly go by the other, like in school and things, but I don't know which one it is.. the first or the second?

Answer 1

Whatever you want.

You don't say if this is the first name or the last name.

So let's assume your name is Jessica-Marie Stein-Robertson. That's a bad name, I know ... but it's for the sake of example.

People will call you by your whole name unless you tell them anything different. But you can be any part of that name you want. Of course you still have to use the whole thing on legal documents and stuff.

But for example, you could ask your employer to make out your checks to Marie Stein if that's what you want. You pick. The bank might want some ID and all, but it's up to you. You might ask your kid's teacher to call her Jessica Robertson. Whichever one you want.

If this is a kid, though, just make sure he/she KNOWS their whole name. Otherwise it can be confusing for them. That's still age-appropriate, though. By the time they're reading and writing you should have explained that their real name is actually much longer, but it's easier to ask people to call them the shorter name. Be prepared to hear that your kid wants to use their WHOLE name, though. Sometimes they do. She might really want to be called Jessica-Marie Stein-Robertson. You never know.

Answer 2

As far as schools go you have to use both on all document...report cards, lunch, popcorn days, cookie days, etc. As long as you let the teacher know - your child can learn any name you wish, legal or not, first or second hyphenated name, or both.

My son has a hyphenated last name. It is my maiden name and his fathers. He just started Kindergarten this year and he is learning, my married name and his fathers. This is because I will be legally changing it when possible.

I think it is up to you and what you wish to do. It is a hard decision, depending the circumstances. But in the end it is all up to you. Good Luck!

Answer 3

Why should it matter which you go by, they are both the name of the hyphenated person. And isn't the whole point of hyphenation something to do with identity (and don't we all determine our own identities) - otherwise why hyphenate.

Answer 4

A kid I worked with a while ago had a hyphenated first name, he went by the whole name, not just one. Jon-Erik.

Answer 5

you can drop either name. i'm having a boy BUT, the girl name we had picked out was Reese-Anne. we weren't POSITIVE that we were going to hyphenate it but we were planning to give her two first names and no middle name. we then planned to call her Reese... and her siblings were joking that they were going to call her Reeses Pieces. BUT, instead we're having a boy in which we are giving one first name and one middle name.

Answer 6

Its not a strict rule. The teacher asks you what you would like to go by or if you prefer something then you just tell them.

Answer 7

It doesn't matter which one you use. I mean, since I was born I used my dad's last name and that wasn't even the name on my birth certificate. It doesn't really matter, it's not like you're going to get in trouble or anything :-)

Answer 8

Could be either, but usually the first.

At School there was a Sadie-Jane, but by the time we left she was just Sadie.

Answer 9

u just either drop ANY of them or ask the teacher in skool to call u by the won u want to be called by For example my friends name is Dhalia-Michelle but we just call we dahlia and my other friend Paige-Amber but we just call her Paige and my friend Stevie-Victoria but we just call her victoria

Answer 10

Robin-Melissa or Jessica-Kristen