I was just reading another thread about hyphenating mns. I have been debating the possibility of a double mn, but I’m just not totally convinced it’s for me. I like the relative simplicity of 3 initials too. I realize that the 2 names I want to use in the middle ([name]Frances[/name], after my gma, and [name]Treat[/name], my maiden name) do not even remotely go together. I could just drop the [name]Frances[/name], but it does have special meaning, and I have gotten really attached to it as a mn; BUT I am pretty much 100% committed to using my maiden if I only use one mn.
So here is what the name would be if I went with one of my current fav names:
[name]Juliana[/name] [name]Frances[/name]-[name]Treat[/name] [name]Chance[/name]
[name]Susanna[/name] [name]Frances[/name]-[name]Treat[/name] [name]Chance[/name] (or [name]Susannah[/name] for all you “h” proponents)
WDYT? Can I get away with this? For those who are wondering, [name]Anna[/name]-[name]Frances[/name] is still in there as a fn possibility, but of course I would just do [name]Treat[/name] in the mid for that name.
I don’t know why you couldn’t. I think most hyphenated names together have some sort of similar entity–[name]Anne[/name]-[name]Sophie[/name], [name]Anna[/name]-[name]Frances[/name], [name]Marie[/name]-[name]Claire[/name], [name]Anne[/name]-[name]Laure[/name], [name]Anna[/name]-[name]Rose[/name], [name]Anna[/name]-[name]Sophia[/name], [name]Ella[/name]-[name]Kate[/name], [name]Mary[/name]-[name]Elizabeth[/name], [name]Sara[/name]-[name]Grace[/name], etc… they just “go” together and feel like one whole name. As you said earlier, [name]Frances[/name]-[name]Treat[/name] doesn’t really have that cohesive feel at all… But it would just be a MN, and I don’t think it really needs to feel cohesive. Then again, when you say [name]Juliana[/name] [name]Frances[/name]-[name]Treat[/name] [name]Chance[/name], it sounds just like [name]Juliana[/name] [name]Frances[/name] [name]Treat[/name] [name]Chance[/name]… I don’t know if it would be worth the hyphen. I would think 2 MNs and a hyphenated MN would each have issues of their own.
You’re probably right, ash. The only benefit I can see is that there are only the 3 initials as opposed to 4, and there’s not the question of what to do with the 2nd mn on forms (medical, school, etc). If the whole mn fits, it fits, and if it doesn’t it just doesn’t.
I can relate very well to this so I’ll throw in my two cents hoping it helps! All 4 of my kids have 4 names, the first 3 kids have two middle names with the second middle name being my maiden name. When I use my kids initials I usually go with the 3 and leave my maiden name initial out. I have never run into a problem with their double middle names or initials causing confusion. The two middle names get used evenly and we all know it’s there even if it gets left out for some reason.
Now, my youngest has a double first name and I struggled with wether to hyphenate or not. Her name is [name]Frances[/name] [name]Kate[/name] and I wanted it to be very clear that it was not [name]Frances[/name] so most people told me that I needed to hyphenate. However, when I married I tried to hyphenate my last name and it was a disaster. People didn’t seem to know what to do with a hyphen. Added to that, since [name]Frances[/name] [name]Kate[/name] was a unique combo we decided not to add the hyphen and just do our best to be clear. [name]Frances[/name] [name]Kate[/name]'s middle name is my maiden name and when I do her initials I leave out the K.
Anyway, I think [name]Treat[/name] is a great maiden name to give your kids and if you’re not too particular about it possibly being left out (but I haven’t found that to be a problem) then I would go for it, no hyphen. [name]Hope[/name] that is a little helpful!