Would giving our child (if it’s a boy) the middle name [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] be stupid and tacky?
A little backstory:
Like a lot of other expecting parents, DH and I give our children ‘nicknames’ before they are born. Some people use bub, others use peanut etc.
We use bird names (I have no idea how that started). My daughter [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] was [name_u]Dove[/name_u] and [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] was [name_u]Jay[/name_u]/[name_u]Blue[/name_u] [name_u]Jay[/name_u].
[name_u]Baby[/name_u] #3 (due in december) is [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] and we were thinking of making that the middle name if it’s a boy (Our top fn pick is [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] btw.)
Would come across as tacky and lame rather than meaningful? Our other kids both have quite normal middles ([name_f]Kathleen[/name_f] & [name_m]Augustus[/name_m]).
I don’t think it’s stupid. The most immediate association in my mind is with [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] from Pirates of the Caribbean, so it’s kind of swashbuckling:)
Another option is to keep [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] as a nickname, regardless of what his actual name is. There’s no rule to say what a nickname should be and it already kind of is his nickname so it would just be continuing.
I agree that I thought of [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f], as I am a fan!! , but why not use it as a middle name. It has meaning to your family and an adorable story. I say do it.
I think it might be cute until he is a teenager and adult, then I’m not so sure. I adore the name [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] but a grown man [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] - I don’t know, and a teen among his mates, saying it’s because it’s what my parents called me before I was born, to defend it when it comes up, also not cool, no matter how cool a [name_m]Jack[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] association (which isn’t even the real link) might be when he is 8.
Sorry to be negative, I just think names must be considered at all ages just not the cute age.
I agree that it’s not stupid (and [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] or [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] would be honestly adorable!). My mom has given my siblings and I all animal nns (hummingbird, ladybug, butterfly, dragon fly, etc.), growing up, and [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is my top choice for an animal nn for my first daughter. I like [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] a lot, and I think it would work just fine as a MN for either of your picks.
Then again, I think it’s sort of weird that you’d use it for baby number three, but haven’t used them for baby 1 and 2 (no [name_f]Emilia[/name_f] [name_u]Dove[/name_u] or [name_m]Conrad[/name_m] [name_u]Jay[/name_u], for example). If [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] ends up being the MN, I think it’s fine, but it just seems a little weird to me. I’m sure people would get over the initial reactions, though, because [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is adorable, and totally usable.
I think it’s cute and I like it a lot… but unfortunately, I agree that it might not be very cool for a grown man. I’m trying to picture “[name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] Lastname” announced at a college commencement ceremony and wondering if a guy might be embarrassed by that. Of course, in that kind of a setting, I at least, would assume that [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] was a surname. Sorry if my musings aren’t very helpful.
I think [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is lovely and it has a great story. I do also like the option of continuing to use it as a nickname.
I don’t think it’s stupid or tacky at all, in fact I love the idea, particularly with the special meaning the name has to you and the little dear. [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] makes for a fantastic name!
That said, as you haven’t used [name_u]Dove[/name_u] and [name_u]Jay[/name_u] in your first two children’s given names, using that nickname as given for the third might be a little off? Personally, I think you should name him something outside of [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f], but continue to use [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] as his nick/pet name, that way, you can keep the beloved [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f], but also chose another for the middle. [name_m]Just[/name_m] an idea…
I don’t think it’s stupid. I actually really love [name_m]Dominic[/name_m] [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f]! I have a common filler middle and I’ve always wished it was more interesting, or had more meaning to it. Plus, as nice/embarrassing as a middle name may be, how often are they actually said or used? I say go for it!
If you do that, you’re gonna get kind of stuck with a “bird” theme for middles. I don’t see the issue since it’s a middle name, but if you plan to have more children, now would be the time to stop the bird theme to prevent any further children from being left out, or be prepared to continue with bird names, there are still a few left like [name_u]Robin[/name_u] and [name_u]Wren[/name_u].
I don’t think this idea is tacky or dumb – I think it’s sweet and meaningful! However, I would echo what some other posters said about it maybe being not quite so suitable for a grown man… It’s wonderful on a little boy. If you’re having a girl, I wouldn’t question and I’d definitely use it one way or the other as I think girls are much less likely to be affected by a whimsical middle name than a boy would be.
I think it’s great. [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is fresh and original and I think it could totally be manly. Half of all sparrows are male, right?
As a grown up (heck, even as a kid) nobody is going to ask what his siblings’ middle names are (except maybe his partner when it is their turn to name a baby) and I would like to think adults don’t tease each other’s names in the highly unlikely event they know what his middle name is.
Like any other name, it’s going to depend how he carries it.
But yeah, not tacky at all. If you both love it, go with it!
Not at all! I think middle names should always have meaning whether that’s by honoring someone else or using a name that has personal meaning to you. The middle spot is a place where you can be a bit creative. There are so many nature and animal names lately that [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] doesn’t even seem that shocking anymore. If [name_m]Bear[/name_m], [name_m]Fox[/name_m], and [name_m]Hawk[/name_m] can be first names, why can’t [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] work as a middle? [name_f]Hope[/name_f] this helps
While I think it’s super adorable, since your other kids doesn’t have a bird name as middle name I wouldn’t use it. But I would still use it as a nickname!
, but why not use it as a middle name. 
I’m sure people would get over the initial reactions, though, because [name_f]Sparrow[/name_f] is adorable, and totally usable.