I grew up in the 60’s and my friends’ middle names did too: [name_f]Diane[/name_f], [name_u]Marie[/name_u], [name_u]Lynn[/name_u], [name_f]Ann[/name_f], [name_u]Jean[/name_u], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], [name_f]Karen[/name_f], [name_f]Kathleen[/name_f], [name_f]Ruth[/name_f], [name_f]Debra[/name_f], [name_u]Kelly[/name_u], [name_u]Louise[/name_u], etc.
These names are now seem by many as “filler” names. Of course they are only filler if your aunt isn’t named [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] or your Mom’s middle isn’t [name_u]Marie[/name_u].
The truth is though that certain names just do sound great as middles, particularly when using double middles or double-barreled or smoosh names. For when [name_f]Andromeda[/name_f] [name_f]Calpurnia[/name_f] [name_f]Galadriel[/name_f] might be too much.
I wonder what middles seem especially luscious and useful today?
May/Mae, [name_f]Grace[/name_f], [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_u]Lark[/name_u], [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_u]James[/name_u] (for a girl too!) are others I see a lot of, either in real life or celebrity birth announcements or just general name chat.
Personally, I prefer shorter first names so to me the perfect middles are long, dramatic names that I might not dare use up front but which bring a nice balance to my favourite short firsts.
Eleanor, [name_f]Maeve[/name_f], [name_f]Faye[/name_f], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f], [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] strike me as fresh middles
Yes! I like that trend too. Like [name_u]June[/name_u] [name_u]Endellion[/name_u], [name_f]Faye[/name_f] [name_f]Guinevere[/name_f], [name_u]Clare[/name_u] [name_f]Madelief[/name_f].
I only see a small snapshot of all the babies born at the hospital I work at. The only names I’ve seen used, from your list, are [name_u]Anne[/name_u] and [name_f]Faith[/name_f].
Your first list of friends’ middles is still the majority for current babies! I think most people are still kinda using “filler” names that flow well, as a whole, or honor names
Middles I’ve seen a lot lately/rising
Mae
Alice
Blue
June
Jo
James (lots of girls, but still in frequent use for boys)
Moon (x3! On a boy and two girls)
I’ve been noticing word names majorly growing for boys and girls - I know babies with middle names Dream, Luck, Love, and Boss.
Not a new trend but a lot of maiden names as middles as well.
Middles I like
(I already know what middle I would pick for a firstborn girl/boy based on family traditions but these are my fun/nature themed middles that I think add dimension)
Endellion
Marigold
Estelle
Solstice
Delphine
Fern
Sylvie
Maeve
Olive
Odette
Iris
Poppy
Hero
Soleil
Clover
[name_f]Jade[/name_f], [name_u]Sage[/name_u], and [name_f]Grace[/name_f] all seem like names I’ve seen used A LOT in the middle spot the past several years, and [name_f]Rose[/name_f] has maintained as a very popular middle name choice.
I’ve also seen [name_u]Wren[/name_u], [name_u]Winter[/name_u], and [name_f]Florence[/name_f] get a lot of love in the middle spot more recently, along with combinations of some of the more dated middles ([name_f]Annemarie[/name_f], [name_f]Rosemary[/name_f], etc.)
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]/ [name_u]Jean[/name_u], [name_u]June[/name_u], [name_f]Belle[/name_f], [name_f]Claire[/name_f], [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], and [name_u]Kay[/name_u] I’ve been noticing a lot too.
Wow! Makes me want to have 50 kids with only these middles! Great list.
I especially like as middles your choices of [name_f]Blythe[/name_f], [name_f]Fern[/name_f], [name_f]Opal[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Enid[/name_f], [name_f]Mercy[/name_f], [name_f]Tamsin[/name_f], [name_f]Mab[/name_f], and [name_f]Mabel[/name_f].
Pleasant names all, and what’s a middle for if not to be pleasant. Except maybe [name_f]Enid[/name_f], that’s more a tough love name that I do indeed love.
Others that fit but aren’t popular:
[name_f]Lena[/name_f]
[name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Bloom[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Lila[/name_f]
[name_u]Snow[/name_u]
[name_u]Winter[/name_u]
(I would be sooo happy if someone picked any of these as a middle name.)
In the UK, I’d say some of the most popular are:
[name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Grace[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Mary[/name_f]
[name_f]Catherine[/name_f]/Katherine
I really like [name_f]Colette[/name_f], [name_f]Corinne[/name_f], [name_f]Delphine[/name_f], [name_f]Mireille[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], [name_u]Carmel[/name_u], [name_f]Opal[/name_f], [name_f]Mercy[/name_f]…
I find [name_u]Kai[/name_u] a great modern middle, for any gender. I find it transforms “clunky” names too e.g. [name_f]Thelma[/name_f] [name_u]Kai[/name_u].
[name_u]Rosen[/name_u] as an update on [name_f]Rose[/name_f]
[name_u]Evan[/name_u]
[name_f]Gem[/name_f]
[name_u]Jet[/name_u]
[name_u]Karel[/name_u]
[name_u]Arlo[/name_u]
[name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
