Hyphenated and Double Names on Headstones

Hyphenated surnames, double first names like Mary-Anne or Jean-Paul, and compound names from many cultures all need careful layout so they look balanced and stay readable.

Hyphenated surnames

• Keep the hyphen — it's part of the legal name.
• If too long for one line, break after the hyphen and centre both parts.
• Use a slightly condensed font if needed — see fitting a long name.

Double first names

Names like Jean-Paul, Mary-Kate or Anne Marie should follow the person's own spelling — with or without a hyphen, as they wrote it. Check legal documents if unsure.

Names from other cultures

• Spanish — two surnames, e.g. García López.
• Portuguese — mother's then father's surname.
• Arabic — patronymic chains, e.g. Ahmed bin Ali.
• Chinese and Korean — family name first.

See multilingual inscriptions.

Companion stones

If spouses have different or hyphenated surnames, give each their own full name rather than forcing a shared surname. See different surnames on a companion headstone.

Checking the legal name

Before approving a proof, compare the name against a birth certificate, passport or death certificate. Hyphens, spaces and capitalisation in double names are easy to get wrong, and a mistake is costly to fix. Ask a family member to read it aloud letter by letter.

Ask the family

When in doubt, ask how the person wrote their own name — that's the best guide.

Key Takeaways

• Keep hyphens as part of the name.
• Break long names after the hyphen.
• Follow the person's own spelling of double names.
• Respect naming orders from other cultures.

Next Step

See accents and special characters.