See the results of this poll: Would you consider three middle names or more?
Respondents: 23 (This poll is closed)
- Maybe: 6 (26%)
- No: 12 (52%)
- Yes: 3 (13%)
- Special Circumstances: 2 (9%)
No, I would never consider giving a child more than two middle names. Actually, on one condition I might - if I wanted to use two middle names (say, [name]Claire[/name] and [name]Juliet[/name]) but I also wanted to include my maiden name (e.g., [name]Louisa[/name] [name]Claire[/name] [name]Juliet[/name] [name]Williams[/name] Lopez). In general, I fully support the idea of having just one middle name. It’s simple and balanced. A middle name is just that - it comes between a first and last name, evening and distributing the flow of the name. Some people don’t even have a middle name, and I think the point of one allows parents to use another name they love, honor family, perhaps be a little more adventurous, or honor a pastime or something of significance to them. The idea of two middle names is rather new to me, and I think its totally fine. Yes, it lets you sneak in another name you love, and it might allow you to honor a few more family members over the course of a sibling set, but it can also make a name slightly cumbersome if not done correctly. However, I think if you use more than two middle names, you are pushing the limits. I know the British royal family uses multiple middle names (e.g., [name]Prince[/name] [name]William[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] [name]Philip[/name] [name]Louis[/name] [[name]Windsor[/name]]), and that’s fine and dandy - I believe they are honoring family. But, the point is, when would you ever use all of those names unless, say, you were being coronated? And, the fact of the matter is that “normal” people like us Berries don’t get coronated on a regular basis - ha! - so, unless you want to sound all name-crazy when you graduate or get married, what’s the point? I’m really not trying to be sarcastic and rude, but this whole topic kind of makes me laugh - I tend to work myself into a tizzy about it, honestly. So, I like the idea of one middle name most - not to say I think two middle names is bad! - because I think it allows for a certain degree of significance and simplicity. I know - or hope! - that the one middle name I’ve chosen for my child will be a name I truly love, one that was chosen for a purpose, whatever that may be (honoring family or pastimes, meaning, true love of a name, etc.) and it just seems special to me. Simple, balanced, and even. Perfection!
[name]Lemon[/name] 
My husband and I plan on using two middle names, just because we like so many names. However, that’s our own personal mn limit.
My sil, [name]Kim[/name], used 3 middles for her daughters: [name]Isabella[/name] [name]Marie[/name] [name]Claire[/name] [name]Simone[/name] and [name]Addison[/name] [name]Nicole[/name] [name]Sarah[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name]. Not practical at all.
I’ve considered using 3 middle names. I’m 100% set on using 2 middle names for 2 reasons: 1. It is a tradition in my family and 2. One of the middle names will be to honor the child’s godparent, so I want to be able to chose a name I like as well. However, a part of me also want s to incorporate the name of the saint for the day my child is born, which could potentially lead to 3 middle names.
At one point, I did consider this idea, because there are so many names which I like. However, as most of my favourites are rather eccentric - I like many of the names I’ve seen you mention on here, Dearest - I feel like more than two middles might seem … Pretentious? [name]Just[/name] too much? Detract from the beauty of each individual name?
I wouldn’t care about possibly seeming pretentious if it were me I were naming, but as it is my children who will have to live with it, I would avoid it - they may mind more about these things than I do.
I do think there are special circumstances, though - to honour people; to include your maiden name; if one of the names is short enough for the whole name not to sound long (e.g. [name]Annora[/name] [name]Lucy[/name] [name]Gwen[/name] [name]Elsa[/name]). I would only use a third middle if all three had deep personal meaning.
That said, I do know some people with three middles, and one with four. The four has always seemed too much, and the threes for no visible reason a little much, but most of the people with three middles had two, and then added their Catholic confirmation name; I think that is fine. It’s never been a problem for any of them, though, having more than the accepted two middles.
I myself will end up with three middles, as I already have two and will add a new first name, making my current first a third middle, one day.
[name]Auburn[/name]
I think it’s a bit of a nightmare for a child who’s starting to learn writing if it practises it’s name and there’s it’s first and last name plus 5 middle names.
Then again, you never can have too many names. It’s good to have a pool to choose from.
My name is [name]Sarah[/name], just [name]Sarah[/name], that’s it, I have to make do with it.
If my name were [name]Emily[/name] [name]Isabelle[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] [name]Marie[/name] [name]Francesca[/name] Familyname I could go around being [name]Emmy[/name] one day, [name]Belle[/name] on the next and [name]Frances[/name] on the day after that, or all in one day.
Lacking a middle name as I do I can tell you, it’s no fun.
Therefor I promote middle names, the more the better
under the condition that they go well together and there should be a limit, noone wants 19 middle names, it stretches introductions painfully.
There’s also a practical consideration-- I have an employee who gave her daughter two middles and was disappointed that the state really only recognizes the first one, so the second is kind of ‘not real’.
I know someone who had that problem…the state only recognizing one. She figured out a way to combine things. She named her daughter [name]Rylee[/name] [name]Anne[/name] [name]Christine[/name], but the birth certificate says Ryleeanne [name]Christine[/name].
Sometimes, but vary rarely, I think it can work.
I would never use more than one middle name, though I understand the desire to. At least in [name]America[/name], we really are a one middle name culture. Any more than that just makes paperwork, legalities, etc. confused. And I like monograms too much!=)