I’m looking for reassurance. I’m going to be honest, I’m just really struggling with anxiety right now. My mind is finding one thing after another to fixate on. I’ve been feeling so worried that the middle names I gave my sons (8 and 4 years old) are weird and that I made a mistake. I have never once regretted their names until now, so I know this is probably just my mind going bonkers. Their first names are normal top 100 names. Their middle names are North and Noble. North is a family name, Noble I just liked and thought it matched the edgy feel of his older brothers name. Did I make a mistake here?! Now I’m wishing I gave them normal middle names. I’m imagining a future employer seeing their middle names and not taking them seriously!
Anyone here with a unique middle name that can vouch everything will be ok?
As someone who just went through the job application process, I was never asked for my middle name (just middle initial on a few). I suppose that may be somewhat regional, but I doubt their (fun! cool!) middle names will hinder them. The name pool only continues to diversify over time, and I expect job recruiters are used to a wide variety of names. A job that judges applicants based solely on their names is not a job I would want anyway!
Thank you for sharing your insight. That does make me feel better. That’s a good point that often just a middle initial is used. I don’t know most of my friends middle names anyways. I just hope they like them when they’re older, but there’s no use in worrying about that now.
First of all, [name_m]North[/name_m] and [name_m]Noble[/name_m] are gorgeous.
Second of all, the only time anyone will ever see their middle names is at a hospital, the DMV, and their teachers will have access to them in their class records. And even if people did see them, it’s only their middle name! It matters much, much less than a first name, and I can’t imagine anyone seeing a person’s middle name and basing their hiring decision on that factor. Besides, unique names are becoming more and more accepted every day. Your kiddos will be going to school with peers called [name_m]Fox[/name_m], [name_m]Wilder[/name_m], and [name_m]Brave[/name_m], and by the time they’re old enough to apply for jobs, employers will have no choice but to higher people with unusual names, or else they won’t be able to have a staff at all!
I have a unique middle name for my gender, and I hated it growing up (and still do now), but not because it was unique! In fact, that’s the only thing I like about it. And as I said before, middle names are so scarcely used in everyday life that there’s no reason to worry about it. It’s the most low-stakes part of anyone’s name!
There’s no way to guarantee that your children will like their names, but you definitely haven’t doomed them to a life of unemployment and ridicule!
“It’s the most low stakes part of anyones name”. That is good to be reminded. [name_f]My[/name_f] husband would never be on board with a wild first name, but he was fine with these names as middle names, so I know that is reassuring in and of itself. Thank you for saying that they are gorgeous names. I loved them when I picked them, and still loved them up until like 5 min ago! Those feelings of anxiety feel so real though. I appreciate you taking the time to reassure me.
Oh, I love those names. They actually strike me as more tame compared to some I have heard and seen used.
To be fair, the future employer very well may also have an ‘out there’ middle or even first name by then. I assume more bold name picks will be more commonplace and maybe won’t even be seen as ‘out there’.
I think it’s just the anxiety talking. These seem like perfectly reasonable middles. Both could be surnames used as middles for all anyone would know. No worries.
Your boys are growing up in a generation with far more inventive and diverse name choices - future employers are likely to be encountering more and more names, so if they’re really judging based on a more unusual, edgy middle, they’re probably not a great employer
That aside, I think your boys’ middles are great - cool, but solid, a family honour and a pleasing virtue - plus, most people will know them by their first names only!
[name_f]My[/name_f] brother has an unusual middle in a similar style to your boys and he has a well-payed, professional job!
If it helps, my parents have worked with people or offered interviews to people called:
[name_f]Misty[/name_f] (though the real spelling was more unique)
Gelly
[name_f]Butterfly[/name_f]
G0dpower
T0y
and I’ve met kids/people who will be around your kids’ age or slightly older called:
St0rm
St@r
Sunsh!ne
0riel
N0lwenn
Te@le
Tuesd@y
Your boys have wonderful middles and I think it will be okay
I think these middle names are really cool, modern and fun. Furthermore, middle names are rarely used. When you say your children’s names do you ever mention their middle names? I rarely say my daughter’s middle names. Furthermore lots of people are more adventurous in the middle spot ultimately as others have said the middle name is the most low risk part of naming I wouldn’t overthink this.
So sorry to hear about your anxiety, it’s rough! I’m dealing with it myself. Keep your chin up, we’ll make it to more sunny days one day
I’m so jealous you got to use [name_m]Noble[/name_m], tbh! I’ve long wanted to use it to honor the military service of my grandpa, dad, and siblings, I think it’s ridiculously cool! (Also love that it reminds me of [name_m]Barnes[/name_m] and [name_m]Noble[/name_m], as a bookworm!). I would love to meet someone with [name_m]Noble[/name_m] in their name.
[name_m]North[/name_m] isn’t a personal favorite, but it is stylish and cool and I love that it reminds me of the arctic. . Both names are so cool and you didn’t do wrong, mama! Your boys have beautiful middles, that will serve them well.
Their middle names are cool!
[name_f]My[/name_f] cousin actually gave her son the middle name [name_m]Noble[/name_m]. It had family ties to it, but it’s actually a very popular name.
