[name_f]My[/name_f] SO and I both have specific name traditions we want to continue with our children. For example, I’m planning on hyphenating my last name when we get married (my dad was the only son and he only had two girls so last name would die with me otherwise). In addition, my SO has two middle names with the family name McDowell being the first. He wants to continue this tradition as well.
I always planned to hyphenate our children’s last name but I’m starting to second guess because I feel like I’m setting these children up for failure with these crazy long names
Example boy name:
____ McDowell-[name_m]Clay[/name_m] Throckmorton-[name_m]Smith[/name_m]
Example girl name:
[name_f]Renata[/name_f] McDowell-[name_u]Kaye[/name_u] Throckmorton-[name_m]Smith[/name_m]
Is it too much? [name_u]Or[/name_u] does it really even matter?
I agree, it might be a bit too much, though you don’t necessarily have to hyphenate the middles. Perhaps [name_f]Renata[/name_f] McDowell [name_u]Kaye[/name_u] Throckmorton-[name_m]Smith[/name_m]? Also, maybe the middle names are shorter, less wordy? That way, the flow would be nicer.
However, it boils down to what you want! Personally, I wouldn’t do it, but if you love them, then go for it! I don’t think you’d be setting them up for failure at all!
I don’t think you’re setting them up for failure. I do think you should check in your state/country to see how many spaces are available on government documents. I’d be worried about names being cut out and that causing trouble for them legally.
I’m in a similar situation where I plan to keep my maiden name and I want to hyphenate my kids’ surname. I’ve decided that one middle name is the best route for me because of this.
Two middle names + two surnames are totally fine; it’s super common in the UK actually. However, I would just do, for example, [name_u]Bennett[/name_u] McDowell [name_m]Clay[/name_m] Throckmorton-[name_m]Smith[/name_m] rather than also hyphenating the middle names. It looks a lot cleaner and the surname is more easily identifyable.
I agree with OpheliaFlora, having two middle names and two last names is totally fine!
I actually have two middle names and two last names and it has never caused me much trouble, other then having a long initial (LIDDS ).
[name_f]My[/name_f] second middle name is a family name that has been passed down in my moms family for generations, so my parents knew they wanted to pass it down to me. They considered not hyphenating their last names because they knew I would have two middle names, but ultimately they decided to go for what felt right, and it definitely was the best decision.
If it feels like the right decision to hyphenate your last name and give your child two middle names then go for it. I highly doubt it will cause them much trouble.
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