The last thread I started about my more fanciful favourites got me thinking - names that would be more difficult up front are often suggested as being better in the middle. But most people I’ve met said they hate their middle names, even those with relatively “normal” names in that spot, and I’m worried that using something a bit extravagant in the middle would be a guaranteed “Mum, why did you name me that!?” when they get older.
I specifically like names with a fantastical/ethereal feel, mostly of Celtic and Germanic origin, being an avid fantasy fan and gamer. But would, say, little [name_f]Alana[/name_f] [name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] grow up to resent her middle name for being too complicated/unusual?
Honestly most people I know who dislike they’re middles feel that way because they think the name is a bland placeholder like [name_f]Marie[/name_f] or [name_u]James[/name_u]. I actually think it would he less likely that they be bothered by an unconventional middle.
I agree with what the previous posters said and an unusual middle name could even be a conversation starter. People usually don’t like/are indifferent to their middles for being too bland or meaningless in my experience. [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t forget that middle names don’t crop up in conversation too often either, so it’s likely only friends would know it in the first place.
My brother has a really interesting middle and he doesn’t like it. I have a fairly plain one and would have loved something more exciting. I also had a friend with a more unusual one who loved it more than their first name. Basically, it will vary person to person but it’s in the middle. It doesn’t have to be shared but it could be and there’s a big chance they might really like having something distinctive in the middle
Honestly I wouldn’t worry about it. If you play it safe, they might find their names completely boring and bland or they might love blending in, if you go super out there they may think it’s weird but they also might love having something distinctive. It depends so much on the personality that I think it is impossible to predict. (fwiw, I have a pretty uncommon first name and a 90’s cheerleader middle name and I really dislike my middle name. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though it is not my usual style I wish it was something more like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or even something really fanciful.)
I am like you in that I am a massive fantasy fan and gamer, as is hubby. To me it is important for names to have options. So, if I go for a more out there first name (such as [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f]), I want the first name to have “normal” nickname options (in this case [name_u]Wynn[/name_u]/[name_f]Wynnie[/name_f]) and a middle name that is slightly more grounded. My current favourite with [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f] is Léonie, which is not out there but also not super common where I live. So this way my daughter would have a choice between fanciful [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f], sweet [name_u]Wynn[/name_u] or grounded and romantic [name_f]Leonie[/name_f] if she decided to go by her middle name. Similarly if I used a more “normal” name in the front spot such as [name_f]Aveline[/name_f], I would probably give a more fanciful middle like [name_f]Morwenna[/name_f] or Lunara. I have had plenty of friends who preferred their more unusual middle to their first and decided to legally swap their names around. So my advice would be to find first names that even if they are a bit fanciful, have options in terms of nicknames, and to balance any fanciful names with something more grounded and familiar. This way your future kids will have many options depending on their personality and what feels right for them.
I think it will depend on the person but I think choosing an unusual middle name you love is better than giving your child an uncommon first name since their fn will be used more and people might tease them more for that.
I worry about this quite a bit (I’m a bad worrier.) I’m the same way with names, I like a tamer first and a pretty wild middle. I think with the upcoming generation becoming parents, more kids are likely to be named this way, it might even become a trend. I remember in school everyone’s middle was just a trivia about them, so I don’t think they’ll be teased too much for it. If they hate it, it’s not like it’s their first name that they’re being called all the time. I think it will be fine!
This totally depends on the person, so I’d say it’s impossible to predict. My middle name is filler and I would’ve loved [name_f]Ceridwen[/name_f] instead.
For 1960 I was given the quite unusual name of [name_f]Tamara[/name_f]. My middle is [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. I remember as a teenager disliking plain [name_f]Jane[/name_f], I remember thing geez mom couldn’t you have at least gone with [name_u]Jean[/name_u]? But I do like my middle now and I do like [name_f]Tamara[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. I named my only daughter [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] and remembering my grandmothers were [name_f]Blossom[/name_f] and [name_f]Myrtle[/name_f] and both hated their names, I put [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] in the middle just in case she hated [name_f]Autumn[/name_f] because [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] had a zillion nicknames. She likes and goes by [name_f]Autumn[/name_f].
Tame fn and more “eccentric” MN seem to be a trend. No matter what you name your child, they will love you. Most people that aren’t a fan of their name go for a different style for their children. As long as the first name is the name that makes you happy, i wouldn’t worry about it.
