When parents can't decide on a baby name, so they just use both.

A hyphen is the new must-have baby accessory.

In a world where celebrity babies are generally better dressed than the average punter (here’s looking at you, Harper Beckham), turning to them for inspiration when it comes to predicting hot trends is not entirely unheard of.

The latest? Double-barreled first names.

Once the territory of elderly English countesses and 1950’s musical theatre characters, the double-barrelled name has shot to popularity after a posse of celebs have made the hyphen this season’s most popular accessory.

Everyone from Kate Moss to Beyonce is shying away from the traditional first name options and slamming a second name on it too, just for good measure.

According to a survey taken in the UK, “… more than 1,200 girls born in the UK had a double-barrelled name bestowed upon them last year, nearly five times the amount that were registered in 2000.”

This from the UK’s The Telegraph:

I for one think it’s a great idea. You and your partner don’t have to risk divorce when trying to choose between your two favourites, and the kid gets the opportunity to ditch the name they don’t like and go simply by the other.

And yet. With great power comes great responsibility, and some of our favourite celebs have let the power go to their heads and have gone completely f*cking rogue.

Check out some of these pearlers (post continues after gallery):

Jamie Oliver is a top offender, with his cutsey-pie YET COMPLETELY UNREASONABLE children’s names being topped off with his most recent addition, “Buddy Bear”. I’m not sure why, but I kind of feel like either Buddy OR Bear would have been better than the combination. Like, what if this kid chooses a career in politics, or law? People will be confused if they are being represented by a man, a children’s farm shetland pony, or a teddy bear.

Jools has been quick to defend her choice, saying:

Oh, and that’s only the tip of the iceberg. How about Pilot Inspektor Lee? Moon Unit Zappa? Or Audio Science Sossaman? *slowly shakes head*

As someone who struggled to even spell her name for the first, oh, TWELVE YEARS OF MY LIFE (M-a-r-g-u-e-r-i-t-e was a tough one for young child’s memory/pen license skills) I feel like I need to issue a bit of a warning: be kind.

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