The real decision isn't which family name — it's which slot: first, middle, or a quieter tribute. What the data says about how far back you're reaching, three ways to honor without the whole name, and what to do when both sides expect it.
Babycare
Same parents, different problem: the list has moved less than you think, your time budget has moved more, and one small person now has opinions. How much sibling coordination to sign up for, and how to give your older child a real role without a vote.
The last trimester is for locking the name, not searching for it. What the official data says about how little the lists move in a year, the two-or-three-finalist cut, and the one-page name card that travels with you.
Waiting on the anatomy scan, or staying Team Green? The two-shortlist method: why the popular shortcut doesn't hold up in the official data, and how to run two lists without doubling the work.
Do baby name initials matter? Less than you'd fear: 640 of 676 first-and-surname initial pairs have nothing to avoid. The 60-second check, the lookup table, and the full word list.
Your surname is fixed — that makes it the best filter you have. Three checks with measured effects: syllable rhythm, the same-letter juncture, and the read-aloud test, plus a worked example with eight candidates.