Emile Smith Rowe is proving to be the talk of the transfer window – but that has not stopped many from spelling his name wrong.
The Arsenal star has one of the most famous shirts in English football with the Gunners’ No.10 strip, but his surname still catches out fans.
A host of Premier League stars have double-barrel surnames, including Liverpool’s vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Nearly all of them include hyphens, with Morgan Gibbs-White and Dominic Calvert-Lewin also among the 18 representatives.
For the longest time, Emile Smith Rowe was the only player in the English top flight with an unhyphenated double-barrel surname – which led to people wrongly inserting one in it.
Why does Smith Rowe not have a hyphen in his name?
The Arsenal attacking midfielder was born to Leslie Rowe and Fiona Smith, with his parents each having a family connection in his name.
Double-barrelled surnames are regularly hyphenated, usually to avoid one of the monikers being omitted or mistaken as a middle name.
In certain situations, unhyphenated surnames can see the first of the names being reduced to an initial or ignored completely – with the hyphen indicating that both parts should be read as one.
However, there are no rules over having to hyphenate double-barrel surnames and some people, like Smith Rowe, prefer it without.
In 2021, Smith Rowe told SunSport: “I’m not too bothered by it, to be honest. I actually kind of like it, even though my mum is fuming!
2
Double barrel surnames in Premier League
With hyphen
Trent Alexander-Arnold, James Ward-Prowse, Morgan Gibbs-White, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Keane Lewis-Potter, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Benicio Baker-Boaitey, Myles Peart-Harris, Amario Cozier-Duberry, Sam Amo-Ameyaw, Kyle Walker-Peters, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Without hyphen
Emile Smith Rowe, Jorgen Strand Larsen
“She doesn’t like it when people put it in.
“I haven’t really asked why there is no hyphen. She’s just said it’s not meant to be there. I’m not too sure. It is what it is. I don’t mind!”
Smith Rowe has since been joined by new Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen in boasting an unhyphenated double-barrel surname.
Now ironically, the 23-year-old Gunners ace could also be on the move himself, with Napoli and Aston Villa both credited with an interest.
talkSPORT has revealed Crystal Palace are preparing a £30million offer to sign Smith Rowe, with Fulham already seeing a bid rejected.
Whatever team he chooses will leave fans waxing lyrical about the England international online – just ensure his name is spelt correctly.
News Summary:
- Why does Emile Smith Rowe not have a hyphen in his surname? Arsenal star’s mum left ‘fuming’ by common fan mistake
- Check all news and articles from the latest Football updates.