Before I came here a few weeks ago, I thought it very rare to give to middle names. Then [name]Lemon[/name] suggested a few to me…and I keep seeing people giving names like: [name]Melanie[/name] [name]Sage[/name] Evangline…
Is two middle names becoming the thing to do? Who here is doing it? It makes for a beautiful yet really long name. I am not sure about it.
If you think two mn’s is too long why not just use one mn - eg. [name]Melaine[/name] [name]Sage[/name]… Try using [name]Long[/name] names and short names e.g. [name]Melaine[/name] [name]Lydia[/name] [name]Rose[/name] instead of [name]Melaine[/name] [name]Sage[/name] [name]Evangeline[/name]. What do you think??
Well, I was most commenting on the trend I am seeing here but have never really seen before…the name was made up. 
I think having two middle names vary depending on personal preferences and family traditions.
I’ve been around for 30 years… and I have two middle names! So I don’t view it as a trend.
[name]Hi[/name], there!
You know, before landing in [name]Berry[/name]-world, I wasn’t really aware of the whole concept of two middle names, either. I was under the impression that a middle name was just that, a single name that came between the first and last names. But, then I saw people using two middle names, and I can’t really say I think it is a bad or good thing! I mean, on the good side, it lets you use more names that you love, perhaps allowing you to honor family or perhaps something of significance to you, it may allow you to use a more “creative” name in a less obvious place, or it might just better balance the flow of your child’s name. On the bad side, you might end up with a ridiculously long name if you aren’t careful in how you choose your two middle names (for example, [name]Cecilia[/name] [name]Penelope[/name] [name]Georgiana[/name] McWilliams is a bit on the ridiculous site, whereas something like [name]Julia[/name] [name]Margot[/name] [name]Louise[/name] McWilliams is more suitable) and it can make something like monogramming - if you like that sort of thing! - a tad bit more difficult, but certainly not impossible. To me, it seems the good outweighs the bad, so if you really can’t decide on one middle name, I’d take the plunge and use two! Also, in your situation, this may be the perfect way to appease family and use a name that you all love!
As for the historical background of the concept, I can’t really say much. I’m going to take a stab at it and say that perhaps the idea of using two middle names stems from the royal tradition of using many middle names, typically to honor family. For example, [name]Britain[/name]'s [name]Prince[/name] [name]William[/name] is really [name]William[/name] [name]Arthur[/name] [name]Philip[/name] [name]Louis[/name] ([name]Windsor[/name]), whereas his brother, [name]Prince[/name] [name]Harry[/name], is [name]Henry[/name] [name]Charles[/name] [name]Albert[/name] [name]David[/name] ([name]Windsor[/name]). Now, certainly I’d say three middle names is a bit much, but two seems like a happy compromise. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that perhaps this is a British custom - or European, maybe? - that is making its way across the pond, but being that I’m American and only lived in [name]England[/name] briefly during my youth, I can’t say that this assertion is wholly accurate.
Regardless, if two middle names is what you need to do to be happy with your little girl’s name, I say go for it! Best of luck!
[name]Lemon[/name]
I would agree that it probably often used to honor family names. My entire name, from beginning to end is a family name.
What do you guys think about giving subsequent children 2 MNs when the first child only has one? I’m worried giving my second baby 2 MNs may cause jealousy issues.
Two middle names is very common here in [name]England[/name] - so common that I’m actually surprised if I ask someone their middle names and they just give one.
I have two middle names, as my parents wanted to honour two people, and as I love so many names, and always think it’s somehow funner to be the ‘owner’ of two middle names, I will give my children two middles.
I think, if one child has one middle and the others have two, the child with only one won’t mind so much, unless they turn out to be a name lover, in which case perhaps they can pick their own second middle to add on when they are older? That would be fun.
My aunt has two middles, presumably because she was the youngest in her family and her parents wanted to honour people/use up all of the names that they liked (although I don’t actually know), and my non-name nutty mum has never expressed dissatisfaction, even though her one middle is a very plain, common one.
I personally only have 1 middle name as do most of my family (bar the odd exeption here and there) but I do plan on using 2 middles for my children.
This is mostly because there are just too many names I love! But also because I want to use 1 Welsh middename to honour heritage, and still be free to use a non-Welsh name I love in the other slot. Also, I kind of think, when done correctly, it can give the name a regal feel.
When done correctly though! That bit’s important! Lol. As stated earlier, too many long frilly names is going to turn into a mouthfull and it’s important to get the flow right.
My grandmother was 1 of 9 children (8 daughters) and she was the youngest but one. Her and her younger sister have no middle names, most of the others have 1 middle name, but the eldest 2 have 2 middles! I guess it was just a case that they used up all the names and ran out by the end! I know she did used to feel some envy about not having a middlename compared to the sisters that got 2, but as [name]Auburn[/name] said, maybe you could let your elder child pick out a second middlename for themselves? That should sort out any envy than might come up!
In the end, it’s all about personal taste. If your happy with one middlename and it sounds good, that’s all you need. None of the women in my partner’s family have any middlenames! I don’t think there’s any point sticking “filler” names in there just to make up the numbers, but if you have lots of names you love and want to use them, then why not have 2 middle names per child?
The more I think on it the more I love the idea of using a second MN…I love my first baby’s name…it has a lot of meaning behind it and I don’t feel like it needs a second MN so hopefully there won’t be any issues.
Off to work on my combinations again!! <3
I’m still not sure what I will do for my children as far as the middle name(s) issue. I have always come from the idea that the simpler a name (yet still unique) the better. Having had a long name myself (I think 18 letters is long for a first grader - not including my mn.), I remember just hating how long it took me to fill out the bubbles on standardized testing and filling out paperwork etc. I was glad to get a simpler name when I got married, though it wasn’t any shorter!
I have felt that giving two middle names is pompous. It CAN be rather stuffy if done the wrong way. It makes me think of the song “The [name]Prince[/name] is Giving a Ball” song from [name]Rogers[/name] and Hammerstein’s 1960s [name]Cinderella[/name], “His royal highness [name]Christopher[/name] [name]Rupert[/name] Windmehr Landemehr [name]Carl[/name] [name]Alexander[/name] Francois [name]Reginal[/name] Lansalot [name]Herman[/name] [name]Gregory[/name] [name]James[/name] is giving a ball…”
Anyway, I realize in some families it is tradition, so I cannot put an official declaration on it. I’m not for telling people what’s for them, I’m just not sure where I stand.
I’ve been thinking about namesakes. For example, I’d like to name one of our girls (I hope we have at least one) [name]Dorothea[/name] for my Grandma [name]Dorothy[/name] ([name]Dot[/name]). I thought we could call her [name]Thea[/name] or [name]Dottie[/name], whichever works out. But I also want to bestow my other grandmother’s middle name upon a daughter: [name]Arleen[/name]. The question becomes, do I give both names to the first girl? ([name]Dorothea[/name] [name]Arleen[/name]) Or do I hope that we will have a second? The second might feel left out if the first one “hogs” all the grandma names.
So many things to consider when naming. Best of luck to you on deciding if two middle names are right for your children.
[name]Stephanie[/name]
I know what you mean about the bubble filling in process being a pain!! I had to deal with 20 letters (I’m a [name]Stephanie[/name] too though I don’t go by it)!! TCAPs, ugh!! I have already found some names that I love with only 1 MN so I’ll only be using 2 if I feel it really blows the other way out of the water and only using names I cherish that aren’t too long. Oh, btw, the song reference made me chuckle!! Too true.
I like [name]Dorothea[/name] [name]Arleen[/name]. What are your mother’s and your partner’s mother’s names (or MNs) or Great GMa and Father’s Great GMa…maybe if you have a second daughter you could do something honoring their names.
I know a British family who moved here about 5 years ago, and all of their children have two middle names. For all the people who aren’t into names as a hobby, this seemed very strange as most Americans have one middle name or sometimes none.
However, I also know a family in which the husband is Jewish and the wife is Catholic, so I think they have some special way of naming their children. Their two daughters each have 4 middle names, in which one is to honor family, one is just a name they like, one is a Jewish name, and one is a confirmation name.
@ scmjem
Did you decide on a name for your little girl yet?
[name]Lemon[/name]
I have wondered about two middles as well – does anyone know if it is a problem filling out US social security forms and birth certificate registrations? Is there a character limit?
Thanks!
I will just give my kids one middle name, but it’s all personal preference. However, I now have two middle names because when I got married I couldn’t bear to part with my middle or maiden names. I ran into a little confusion at the social security office, but it was just because they put my maiden name as a second last name instead of a second middle like I requested, so I had to get a new card. One slightly annoying thing I have noticed is that it seems like all forms I have to fill out only allow space for one middle initial. This is also true for my driver’s license. As far as a character limit on the social security cards, I wasn’t able to find anything about that on their website, so not sure on that one.
I heard (or read) that two (or more) middle names is a way in which middle and upper class parents try to distance themselves from the working classes.
Having one middle name was a middle / upper class trend, then joe average started to do it and so the middle classes began giving their children a second middle name. Now it is common to have three middle names, and a hyphenated last name, to boot, if you’re posh.
On the flip side, my parents-in-law, who live in working-class [name]England[/name], have NO MIDDLE NAME! [name]Just[/name] a first name and a last name! I had never heard of such a thing, they have only two names: First. Last., as do many other people of their generation. [name]How[/name] odd!!!