Two Part Name?

Question

I am pregnant with my second daughter and my husband and I have picked out a first and middle name that goes really well together. I like the combination enough that I am considering making it a two part first name. Here are my questions:

Do people with two part first names really have two first names, or is it a first and middle name on the birth certificate?

Do people with two first names have a middle name as well? or two middle names?

If you have two first names, do you wish you were given a middle name?

Ever have problems with a name that was too long?

The part of the decision that I am wrestling with, is that the two names together will be 12 letters long (but only 3 syllables). Also, I do not refer to my first daughter by her first and middle name, so why would I do so with my second? Unless of course, both names were her first name.

If anyone could be of help in assisting me with my decision that would be great. Any usefull input would be appreciated.

Answer 1

There are a number of ways you can do it, and double names aren't uncommon at all, so I don't think it would be odd (even if your first doesn't have one). ;)

Not knowing the names in question, I'll use Mary Claire as an example.

If you want it to be her legal first "names," you simply put both Mary AND Claire on the first name line of her birth certificate. And do not hyphenate it (I'm certain it's been suggested LOL). Most electronic forms don't even allow the use of punctuation within a name, so that only creates far more hassles than it avoids, not to mention being less visually appealing to begin with. :) In this way, you can pretty much guarantee that she won't have a problem with teachers and such insisting she's "just Mary," because "Mary Claire," in full, will appear on all official forms and such.

Whether you want to include a separate middle name or not is simply a judgement call, but if Mary Claire is listed on the first name line, I'd likely choose a middle name as well to further clarify. In other words, if "Mary Claire" is listed as the first name, and Elisabeth the middle, it's fairly obvious that this is intended to be a double name. ;)

If the legality of it isn't a concern, and you simply want to call her by both, you can also opt to just make Mary her first name and Claire her middle. Then it's up to you -- and later her -- to use both, or simply Mary on its own.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

Question #1 - 2 first names #2 one middle name #3 It is a pain in the you know what for a young child learning how to write to spell out a long name#4 you can call someone by as many names as you wish

Answer 3

I personally hate "two-part" names, but I have two friends - one named Sallyann and another Peggyann, and they both have a separate middle name. Sallyann and Peggyann are considered one name, their first name.

Answer 4

Fallow yr heart
:-)
I. Tink