Pupils with double-barrelled names

I once sat in a class while the teacher called the register out and came across a double-barrelled surname. Clearly a socialist, the teacher grilled the poor rich kid for several minutes asking which name he wanted to be called by. Is this something that would happen these days?

modelmaker

Certainly when I was in school (1970s), possession of a double-barrelled name would have marked you out as incredibly middle class. Not any more. I teach loads of kids with double-barrelled names and in every case it’s the result of either being born outside wedlock or a subsequent marriage break-up.

bonkers 704

Now we’re more likely to see double-barrelled double-barrelled names: Jamie-Leigh, Stevie-Leigh and so on. What I more despair about are names that show the parents are stupid and insensitive - I have taught both Paige Turner and Hollie Wood.

brambo

An astonishing number of children joining our school have either a double-barrelled name or double-barrelled surname - I know this because I’ve been making the network usernames for them. Some are probably destined never to log in. You’d think parents would consider this before naming their child Lili-Mae McCartney-O’Brien.

Grandsire

I used to teach a Purdey Shotte-Gunn. Oh all right then, I didn’t really. Couldn’t resist it.

magic surf bus

Both my children have double-barrelled names. I am married to their mother. They attend the local comp. Their unique name clearly identifies them and their heritage. What’s the problem?

shirtandtie

I covered for a colleague last week and encountered my first triple- barrelled surname combined with a double-barrelled first name.

Stratosphere

It’s not so much double-barrelled surnames that are the fad locally, but “initial” names (C.J., T.J. and so on). Some kids don’t even have full names and there’s one poor child walking around called B.J.

MisterFlibble

www.tes.co.uknames.