Buchanan on a girl?

DH and I are having a bit of a dilemma.

When pregnant with our first child, we decided that we wanted the middle names of our kids to be the maiden names of our mothers.

Which seemed totally reasonable at the time, since both maiden names are usable. And we only wanted 2 kids.

So we had 2 kids, [name_u]Reid[/name_u] [name_m]Emmerson[/name_m] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_u]Gray[/name_u].

But we decided we wanted another child. And he or she is due in december!

We ultimately decided that we’ll use my maiden name, [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], for a boy. (We’re thinking something like [name_u]Arlo[/name_u] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], [name_m]Felix[/name_m] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] or [name_m]Caspar[/name_m] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m])

But the middle name for a girl is another story. DH says [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] is fine as the middle for a girl (We are set on [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] for her first name). But I’m not so sure.

There are no other surnames of honorable people in our families that are usable (The most usable one is Lieberman…)

Should we just ditch the surname thing if this baby is a girl? Or should we use [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] as her middle?

It is not that I don’t like my maiden name or that it sounds terrible, but I am just afraid it is a little too butch for a girl.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one!

[name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] makes me think of [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] so I can definitely see it as a middle for a little girls especially since it has important family ties. I say go for it; [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] Lastname is great!

I can see your point, but I agree that it’ll be just fine.

I think it’s definitely usable as a middle! Her middle will rarely be used anyway, and I think the fact that it has family meaning is great. Plus, with the name [name_f]Audrey[/name_f], I think people’s inititial thoughts will still be feminine

I agree with pp that my first association that comes to mind is [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], a girl, and only secondly the US President, a boy… but [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] doesn’t really strike me as a masculine or feminine surname-name, it just sounds to me like a family surname given as a middle name, which is perfectly fine for a boy or a girl. (Although maybe I could see a boy enjoying it more with the “cannon” part and all?)

I have a coworker whose middle name is just her mother’s maiden name (I can’t remember what it is at the moment, but I remember it being a non-feminine surname, like “Leibowitz” or something) and she likes it. In fact she thinks when she gets married she’ll have two middle names (her mom’s maiden and her maiden) and then her husband’s last name, because she doesn’t want to give up her surname middle.

I think it’s just fine if you use [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m], as it’s not unusual to give a family surname as a middle to a boy or a girl. You could also consider giving her two middle names, the first one being a feminine middle name and the second being [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m].

I also think it’s fine if you don’t use it and end the pattern. It sounds like if you ever were to have a 4th (especially if it were another girl) you would have to find something else to do anyway. You could give [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] a middle name that honors someone else in your family, and that would keep the middles family-themed… or just give her any other middle you like! :slight_smile:

I think there’s a ton of leeway with middles, and especially when you’re talking using family/surnames. Go for it! I wouldn’t think it was odd at all, and I’m not someone who’s usually a fan of unisex names or gender-bending.

Since [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] has personal significance for you, then use it in the middle spot. [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] is fine.

I think it’s fine. [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] is rather sweet and it’s obvious the middle is to honour. It also doesn’t strike me as masculine or feminine, it just comes across as a surname used to honour in the middle name spot.

As a middle, with important family ties, I say go for it!

When I read the title…I thought no. but after reading your post, and especially that it will only be a middle, I definitely think yes!!! I actually think [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] is gorgeous!

I would probably not use it for a first name for a girl but I think it is just fine in the middle! Using family names as middles is very common where I am (Southern US) and I’ve heard way more masculine sounding names used for girl middles.

I say use it, it is the next logical choice for #3 after using both of your mothers’ maiden names already.

Good luck!

As a middle it’s fine, especially since it’s your maiden name. [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] has a nice flow to it.

[name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] is fine in the middle spot. I love the sentiment, and I think your daughter will appreciate it too.

I agree that as a mn & honor name [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] works well.

I think [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] makes a lovely middle name!

I agree with all the PPs!

Totally usable imho :slight_smile:

I think it’s great, not too butch at all.

I agree that there is more freedom in choosing a middle, since it is used rarely.

Plus, [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] [name_m]Buchanan[/name_m] sounds awesome.

When I first read the title, I thought … no.
But after reading the story behind it, I think … YES.

Like PPs have said, middle names do not have to follow the same ‘rules’ as first names. And the sentiment is great :slight_smile:

Thanks so much for commenting, guys :slight_smile:

I really appreciate it.

I actually really like it for a girl. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] sound especially with the family connection.