09 December 2023 , 10:00
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Most people weren't impressed with this unique "blended" surname.
More and more parents are opting to give their offspring unusual names to ensure they stand out from the crowd. While some go for alternative spellings of classics, others take no chances to make sure there won't be another child in the class with the same name by calling them something like 'Kingmessiah' or 'Danger'.
The brave choices are often pretty hit and miss, as one mum found out when her choice was given the unfortunate crown of "worst name of 2019". Having 'always loved the name Kaitlyn but hated how popular it was', she found a way to make it her own - by substituting in the Roman numeral for eight so it became 'KVIIIlyn'. Spelling that out on the phone is likely to be a challenge for the child as they grow up.
Back in 2019, a couple from Sydney certainly divided opinions when they decided to give their daughter a "blended surname", giving her a last name that is a mash-up of both of theirs.
Their daughter Lyla has been given the surname 'Casseldon' (Facebook)Parents Courtney and Laura decided they wanted to give their little girl Lyla a combination of both of their surnames, Cassar and Sheldon, to give her the last name 'Casseldon'.
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They explained why they love the modern moniker, Courtney said: "I like the idea of our daughter having a part of both of us," as reported by the Daily Telegraph at the time. "With hyphens (double barrel surnames) I find a lot of kids end up choosing one name because it is easier.
"We played around with a few last names and found one that we like and sounds like a last name."
The move split opinion online, which varied from those who thought it was "lovely" to others who said it was "ridiculous".
One said: "This is peak stupid." Another replied: "Family trees are going to get much harder in the future." A third defended the decision, arguing: "It's the parent's right to name their children anything they like."
Modern approaches to surnames are becoming more common, with the Daily Mail reporting in 2022 that "requests to keep maiden names had its biggest rise between 2020 and 2021," as more and more women increasingly want to retain their name and pass it on to their children in some way or another, with maiden names being used as middle names has also risen drastically in popularity in recent years,
Equally, inquiries about meshing – the combining of surnames after marriage – had risen seven-fold in the past two years, online service NameSwitch said," so even though this couple found themselves criticised for their daughter's surname, it's likely a trend that could continue to rise.
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