How important are Initials?

How important are initials that spell something?

We are potentially going to give our little girl the intitials S.A.D and wondering if these are major, as we LOVE her name.

Looking to change middle name to I [name_u]Or[/name_u] E if a problem

Thanks!

Unless you live in the deep south where monograms are a big thing. I dont think its a big deal.

Not the greatest initials admittedly, but its not super offensive or descriptive. So I think it would be fine

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I personally don’t think it’s that important (depending on what’s spelt, in your case, I think it’s fine) but I guess it depends on the prevalence/use of initials where you are. In my experience, outside of my family and close friends, middle names weren’t really shared so we didn’t think about initials. Really the only example I could think of when it was a thing was a middle school teacher had the initials DAB and had to sign off hall slips so 2015-17 was a fun time for them.

Overall, the initials aren’t offensive and if you love the names, you should go for it!

As long as the initials arn’t offensive I think it doesn’t matter. I know a super frilly feminine girl with the initials SIR and my own initials are ERC. I think it’s fine

Honestly living in the south I don’t even think it’s a big deal, and at least where I am monograms arn’t a really big thing anymore? It’s more an older generation thing

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I don’t think my kids’ initials, including their middle names, have ever been used anywhere. First and last initials, yes, but not middles. (One of my kids is E.T. which is kind of neat!)

I wouldn’t want bad initials but its probably not important in most cases. I think monogrammed stuff is fun and sometimes initials do end up being used by default in work email addresses etc

I don’t think it’s a huge deal, unless the initials spell something super vulgar. She’ll more often be just S. D. than she will be S. A. D. Whenever I initial anything, I don’t use my middle names’ initials.

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To me initials aren’t a big deal, I wouldn’t throw away a name I love just because the initials spell something unfortunate. And even though sad isn’t the greatest thing, there are initials that spell far worse things. So if you really love the name, I’d say go for it.

I think it’s fine - kind of slightly amusing rather than embarrassing or awkward. Where I am, things are typically [Full first name] [Middle Initial] [Surname], and I don’t think it’s that noticeable.

So, just using examples (a random selection of names):

S. A. D → noticeable - not a huge deal imo, unless you plan to write it out all the time.

[name_f]Sarai[/name_f] [name_f]Amelie[/name_f] [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] → not really noticeable, wouldn’t really think it

[name_f]Sarai[/name_f]. A. [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] → wouldn’t think about it tbh

Unless it’s like truly vulgar (FUK or ASS for example) then it’s not really a big deal. Someone with the initials SAD might get an occasional comment but it’s more like a fun little tease rather than genuinely embarrassing.

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Personally I think initials are important I wouldn’t want my child to have initials that spell out negatives things like FAT and I avoid pairing B and J names together. If it was me I would give another middle name so split up the initials for example [name_u]Seren[/name_u] [name_f]Aurelia[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_m]Donovan[/name_m] then you’ve eliminated that issue but get to keep all the names you love.

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I probably wouldn’t.

However, I think it’s only a problem if they spell a bad word. For example, our last name starts with S so for us an [name_u]Alex[/name_u] [name_u]Scott[/name_u] will never work because of what the initials would then spell.

But other than that, I think it’s up to you.

It’s not a deal breaker if you love the name and it doesn’t bother you (sorry if I threw you into indecision :heart:). [name_m]Just[/name_m] something to be aware of and I always check the initials just in case. I knew a girl whose initials were EAR and she was teased but kids will find something to tease no matter what. I also feel the need to point out that monograms, if you use them, are usually in first-last-middle order so it’d be sDa in monogram form.

The only time I’m truly concerned with initials is if it spells something truly offensive (I wouldn’t go near the initials KKK with a ten-foot pole)… or alternately, if it spells something cute like LOVE! If I were deciding between [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] [name_f]Odette[/name_f] [name_u]Vale[/name_u] and [name_f]Liliana[/name_f] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] [name_f]Odette[/name_f], I would 100% go for the initials that spelled a name with such sweet and lovely sentiments.

SAD isn’t great but it’s not offensive; at least here the only initials I have ever truly used is first initial/last initial. Very few people know all 3 of my initials and I think the only time it’s ever really come up at all is if I make an observation about my own initials (if you swap two of my initials you get a very generic, common word that doesn’t really have any negative or tease-worthy associations). If you really love her name, I would go for it! I rather liked, growing up, that my initials almost spelled a word.

very, but I think it’s more of a problem if your going to call her by her initials. but also with the initials Sad, you could get the nickname [name_f]Sadie[/name_f]

Tough call. I think it would bother me. If you are concerned about it enough to ask us, maybe you shouldn’t?

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In general I’ve noticed that many people only colloquially sign stuff with all the initials if there are repeats of the same first initial last initial combo in a particular group (like an elementary school classroom or an adult pottery class). Many people do include their middle initial when initialing various documents and contracts.

The classic monogram style puts the last initial in the center. So if say she ever wants her initials on a tote bag or a robe (or someone gifts her something with it), they would be formatted {SDA}.