When you hyphenate a name which name goes first??

Question

My boyfriend and I are going to hyphenate our daughters name when she is born. That way she has the same last name as myself and my son and she still has my boyfriends last name. We also plan to hyphenate my sons name too (after marriage so bf and son have same last name too) but I want to make sure that my family name continues with me son since he was the last male to carry on the name. Which name goes first?? My boyfriends or mine?? We want to put my daughters and sons in the same order.

Answer 1

That's a very poor way to start a marriage, the ultimate unity of one man and one woman.  Everyone in the family, including you, should have the same single last name: your husband's.

Edit:  Do you suppose you're the only person in history that had that happen?  What about your mother's maiden name?  How about your grandmother's?  Forgive me if you're European royalty, but the only thing that's new under the sun is the strange new attitude about it.  You wouldn't even have your father's name if your mother had your logic.  And if, God forbid, the same thing happens to your husband as to your father, is your grandchild going to have three (maybe four!) last names instead of just two?  Do what you like, but don't act like it's logical.

Answer 2

I'm not sure if there's a correct way or not.

I would just go for what sounds better.

The rule of thumb for that would probably be the one with more syllables first.

Answer 3

mother-father

Answer 4

I believe it goes "mother's last name-father's last name." I have some friends who did this and it seems to work great. Although, I do have one friend who's last name is father's then mother's because it "sounded better" according to their family. Good luck, and I hope that helps.    

Answer 5

When I hyphenated my son's name I put my last name first. I don't think it really matters either way. I just chose mine first because it sounded better and alphabetically my name came first.  

Answer 6

Your maiden name goes first.

Answer 7

I would use mother's name-father's name. However; keep in mind that they will go through life constantly spelling their names and trying to explain why they were named in this manner. It can also cause problems for record keeping. I can vouch that medical records can be confusing. Some file by the first name listed, others file by the last name (father's name). I feel it is more important to stress ethnicity and culture of both parents than to hyphenatee a name to carry on the family lineage.