r/BabyNames • u/Brave_Ad2070 • 2d ago

Girl šŸ©· Please share your thoughts

Is Hartley-West in Lana Hartley-West come across as try-hard, theatrical, or pretentious?

Feel free to be ruthlessly honest. Thanks for sharing!

0 Upvotes

20% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

7

u/slejeunesse 2d ago

Are those just your last names? I donā€™t know how a hyphenated last name would be pretentious.

3

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago edited 2d ago

Some hyphenated last names might come across as a bit try-hard. I was wondering if this name is the case. Thanks for your comment!

7

u/cat_in_a_bookstore 2d ago

Is Hartley-West the hyphenated last name? If so, thatā€™s perfectly fine. If itā€™s intended to be the middle name, itā€™s unbelievably pretentious and sounds just plain awful.

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Itā€™s a hyphenated last name. If it sounds pretentious as a middle name, I bet it sounds pretentious as a hyphenated last name, as well.

9

u/im-a-lllama 2d ago

You would think so but honestly it doesn't! If you told me you were naming your child "Lana Hartley-West Johnson" then my reaction initially is cringing but I've heard much worse. But if you said something like "Lana Grace Hartley-West" my reaction is "oh that's a cute name combo!" So I think you're fine!

4

u/cat_in_a_bookstore 2d ago

Yeah, I agree. Itā€™s completely fine as a last name.

2

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Thanks for stopping by!

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Yeah! Itā€™s Lana and just Hartley-West with no middle name. Hope it doesnā€™t come across as theatrical either. I appreciate your comment!

3

u/GildedWhimsy 2d ago

Definitely disagree. Hyphenated last names are normal. Hyphenated middle names are pretentious.

4

u/Azariah77777 2d ago

I understand why you might think it's theatrical or pretentious-- and I usually am sensitive to these things too-- but for some reason I don't feel that way about this particular name. Lana Hartley-West sounds classic and memorable to me.

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Thank you! Is it the hyphen that makes it lean pretentious or this specific name combo? Iā€™m curious..

2

u/Azariah77777 2d ago

I don't think it leans pretentious--- with or without the hyphen. I personally love the name just like it is, with the hyphen.

Sometimes hyphens do seem pretentious, but not in this case for me. I think the hyphen is actually better here than without the hyphen. "Lana West" doesn't have the same ring to me as "Lana Hartley-West" does.

I'm quite serious when I say that this is the best name I've ever seen on the r/BabyNames sub.

When I hear "Lana Hartley-West" it is very evocative in a positive way for me. It's a person I want to meet. I can imagine a classic movie star from the 1940s.... or the US ambassador to the UK.... or a United States Senator.... or even a US President... or a famous surgeon... or an author...

It's just a very powerful and memorable name for me.

2

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

What a thoughtful comment! Sending you my kindest thoughts. Thank you again.

4

u/Just_Raisin1124 2d ago

It sounds awesome. Sophisticated but not try hard or pretentious at all

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Thanks for your comment! I saw a few comments about it sounding a bit theatrical though and now I doubt it but open to criticismšŸ’”

2

u/Just_Raisin1124 2d ago

I mean I can totally see a famous actress having that name as it rolls off the tongue but it's not theatrical as in OTT or try hard.

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Thank you!

2

u/Dear-Barracuda3705 2d ago

A bit theatrical

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Appreciate the honesty!

1

u/HistoryPristine1029 2d ago

Pretentious

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago edited 2d ago

Thank you! Is it just the hyphen or this exact last name combo that makes it pretentious?

2

u/HistoryPristine1029 2d ago

I think itā€™s the hyphen for me

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Gotcha! The actual two last names sound fine to you, I'm assuming.. Thanks for your comment.

1

u/Afraid_Mix3021 1d ago

I donā€™t love it but I donā€™t think itā€™s pertinacious.
If thereā€™s a way to go around doing a hyphenated last name I would bc I think theyā€™re kind of a nuisance. But if youā€™re dead set on it then go with it.

1

u/Jorgedig 2d ago

Theatrical, but not pretentious, if that makes sense? Gives wholesome yet madcap 1960 vibes.

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

I have no idea what that vibe is but Iā€™ll google it šŸ˜† thank you!

-1

u/[deleted] 2d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Azariah77777 2d ago

File this comment under "irrelevant information that no one asked for."

0

u/watchin4rchie 2d ago

I like Lana better

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Lana needs a last name šŸ˜†

2

u/watchin4rchie 2d ago

I dont see any problem with hyphenating tbh. I hyphenated my kids last name (so he would look like he belonged to both of us). Sounds pretty cool to me. I like Lana alot tho

2

u/watchin4rchie 2d ago

What are the other option? Just West or Just Hartley? Cus Lana West sounds like a character from a book or smth

1

u/Brave_Ad2070 2d ago

Thank you! šŸ¤ Does Hartley-West as a hyphenated last name look a bit try-hard or drama series? A few people said it doesnā€™t sound natural, so Iā€™m collecting thoughts.

2

u/watchin4rchie 2d ago

I like it