I like Mae/May as a middle name in a combo, but don’t like it as a single name.
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I have a ton of middle-only names, for whatever reason. A lot of them I think are a little too out-there as a first name or would be difficult to live with as a first name but I love them anyway. Some are just a little too popular/expected for me, but I like the name anyway.
Here are some that I really love, but would only use as a middle:
[name_u]Kimberley[/name_u] is the first that comes to mind. I really love this name (even if it’s fallen out of fashion) but I wouldn’t use it as a first because [name_u]Kim[/name_u] is inevitable and I find it just okay. I think other first names suit my style better, but I have been searching for a great combo that I can use [name_u]Kimberley[/name_u] with!
[name_f]Autumn[/name_f], [name_f]Summer[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f], [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f], [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f], [name_f]Jasmine[/name_f], [name_f]Tiffany[/name_f], [name_f]Vanessa[/name_f], [name_f]Veronica[/name_f], and [name_u]Vivian[/name_u] are (or were) just a little too common for me to use as a first. Ditto [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] and even [name_u]River[/name_u] on the boys’ side.
[name_u]June[/name_u] is an honor name for someone very dear to me, but objectively I just don’t really like the name very much. It’s not my style and I don’t like J sounds or “oo” sounds very much, but I would use this as a middle in a heartbeat. Other honor names that I like but aren’t necessarily my personal style are [name_f]Leanne[/name_f] / Lyanne, [name_f]Lynette[/name_f], Shaylene, and [name_f]Evelina[/name_f].
Names that I love but think would be a little too difficult to pull off as a first name here in the US are [name_u]Alix[/name_u], [name_f]Arabel[/name_f], [name_u]Cerulean[/name_u], [name_f]Chiara[/name_f], [name_f]Circe[/name_f], [name_u]Cypress[/name_u], [name_u]Felice[/name_u], [name_f]Holiday[/name_f], [name_f]Lisanne[/name_f], [name_u]Prairie[/name_u], [name_f]Saba[/name_f], [name_f]Seraphine[/name_f], [name_m]Alphonse[/name_m], Batiste, [name_m]Bjorn[/name_m], [name_u]Fable[/name_u], [name_m]Evariste[/name_m], [name_m]Fernand[/name_m], [name_m]Gaston[/name_m], [name_m]Sabien[/name_m], and [name_u]Wolf[/name_u].
Then there are names that I feel are just a little insubstantial for a full first name, but I still like them. [name_f]Bree[/name_f], [name_f]Cynthie[/name_f], [name_u]Rae[/name_u], [name_m]Cliff[/name_m], and [name_m]Vance[/name_m] are examples.
Most of the rest of my middles-only list is names that I like but don’t love and I would rather use a name I love as a first.
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I do love [name_f]Lilac[/name_f] and [name_f]Lavender[/name_f], but I think they’re a bit sickly sweet to stand alone; I adore them paired with a simpler first. [name_f]Cicely[/name_f] and [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] are others that spring to mind (I don’t dislike them alone, they just don’t stand out particularly), and [name_u]William[/name_u] and [name_u]August[/name_u] for boys. [name_f]My[/name_f] relationship with [name_u]August[/name_u] is a bit weird - I quite strongly dislike him as a first, but am obsessed with him as a middle. Can’t begin to explain it.
I have various ‘middle-name-only’ names - some because they’re too similar to family member’s names for fns, some because of popularity., some for no good reason at all,
A few include: [name_f]Adele[/name_f], [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f], [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f], [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m], [name_u]Henry[/name_u], [name_f]Luella[/name_f], [name_f]Emily[/name_f], [name_u]Florence[/name_u], [name_f]Penelope[/name_f]
Oh this is a great question!
[name_f]Emma[/name_f] and [name_f]Emily[/name_f] are very popular names in my little county. So much so, that it sometimes feels like every other person I meet is named either [name_f]Emma[/name_f] or [name_f]Emily[/name_f] 
, and it was very nearly my sister’s name. So I can’t quite love them as first names because of their popularity, but I do think they are beautiful as middles. (Florence [name_f]Emily[/name_f] would be darling 
).
I also prefer [name_u]Valentine[/name_u] and [name_m]Shepherd[/name_m] as middles only. They don’t totally fit in with the vibes of my set list of first names for boys and the most intuitive nicknames just aren’t my cup of tea.
[name_f]Ruth[/name_f] is one I’m hit-or-miss on as a first, but love in a combo!!