Not only does the hyphenated-name trend in Britain look set to run and run, it is also becoming more prolific.
Once again, not only did the number of babies who received a hyphenated name increase in 2012, but also the range of hyphenated names grew. These include many new coinages such as Hunter-Rose, Ocean-Blu, Wynter-Rose, Lilly-Bow, Romany-Rose, King-David, Ashley-Junior, Teddy-Lee and Marley-Jai.
In 2011 4.6% of boys' names and 12.8% of all girls' names listed in the official data (names given to 3 or more babies) were hyphenated. In 2012 these figures had risen to 5.2% and 15.5% respectively.
Boys:
Of the 6194 individual boys' names recorded in the 2012 data, 322 (5.2%) are hyphenated, registered for a total of 2307 babies. This trend has been increasing in recent years:
- 2009: 198 hyphen names given to 1194 babies.
- 2010: 240 hyphen names given to 1574 babies.
- 2011: 279 hyphen names given to 1776 babies.
- 2012: 322 hyphen names given to 2307 babies.
Girls:
Of the 7729 individual names recorded for girls in 2012, 1195 (15.5%) are hyphenated. These 1195 names were distributed across 13,005 babies, and also show an increase from previous years:
- 2009: 747 hyphen names given to 7264 babies.
- 2010: 897 hyphen names given to 9045 babies.
- 2011: 968 hyphen names given to 10,625 babies.
- 2012: 1195 hyphen names given to 13,005 babies.
Most popular hyphen names
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Most commonly hyphenated first name:
Hundreds of distinct first names have been hyphenated but many of the most common combinations, unsurprisingly, feature a first name from the Top 100. The main trend is the use of a two-syllable name, usually one that ends in an "ee" sound. The most popular first elements out of all those listed in 2012 are as follows:
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Most common second name:
The majority of second elements are one-syllable names, and many contain an "ay" or "ee" sound. The most popular second elements out of all those listed in 2012 are as follows:
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New Trends
Alongside the growing trend for hyphenated names, 2012 also saw a growing number of compounded names (or "smoosh" names as they're sometimes called). There are many compound names that are longstanding and quite traditional, such as Marianne and Annemarie, and Muslim families are also known to favour compounded, honourific, Arabic names such as Mohammedamin, Abdulhamid and Fatimazahra.
These were all present in 2012, alongside a whole host of new creations that use the same favourite elements listed above, but forgoing the hyphen altogether.
Avarose, Elizabella, Ellamay, Emmylou, Laceymae, Lilibeth, Lilliella, Lillymae, Lilybelle, Miabella, Rubyann, Billyray, Johnpaul, Johnwilliam and Tommylee are just a few from the 2012 data.
Click this link to view the complete list of hyphen names listed in the data for England and Wales in 2012:
Hyphen Names 2012
