Would you rather…

[CMV2254]

If the initials of the first and middle combo you liked made an unsavory word when paired with your last name, would you a) just pick a different middle name that you liked less or b) add a second middle name to add an additional initial and avoid the word issue?

I’m usually not bothered by initials making acronyms or what have you- we aren’t been monogrammers or anything, so it’s not like people see our kids’ initials spelled out for them frequently.

However, I do feel like it would bother me in this case.
My husband says he is still marinading on the name [name_m]Grover[/name_m], but if we were to use it, he would want the middle name [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] with it. Which, [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] was the very first combo I pitched to him and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is a family name (he does not like just Xander). Our last name starts with S-, so the initials would be GAS.

This honestly wouldn’t be much of an issue for me typically, BUT, I do feel like if we were to use the name [name_m]Grover[/name_m], it would already be a controversial or frowned upon choice in our family. [name_m]The[/name_m] first family member I mentioned it to was appalled that we would do that to a child and when I paired it with [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] they immediately responded with “Gas???!”. [name_m]The[/name_m] other people who have heard it thrown around have almost unanimously reacted with “No, absolutely not. I love you, but no.”

I guess maybe that should be a sign to veto it from the list? But I have yet to be able to talk myself out of this name during this pregnancy, and my husband is still considering it a possibility… though not as highly as some other contenders.

But I do think if we were to use a name that already draws those types of reactions, I wouldn’t want to ALSO spell out the word GAS with their initials.

I feel like if we did add a second middle name, it should either be something sentimental, a name that holds a meaning we like, or just something that really wows us. Otherwise tagging on a second middle name feels a little… random?

I see a lot of double middle names in the “if you had a son today thread” that really wow me, so I didn’t know if anyone would be able to come up with a combo that would feel fitting.

All I’ve jotted so far while up for the sixth night in a row with a very sick kiddo:

• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] Oak/Oaks S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] Storer
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Dean[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Heath[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Reid[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r

Combos containing family names:

• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] RayS-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]James[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Leon[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Dale[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Van[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r

Probably way too long or “much”:
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Devereaux[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] [name_m]August[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Augustine[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r*
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] S-t-o-r-e-r *

If just choosing a middle other than [name_m]Alexander[/name_m], some possibilities:

• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Devereaux[/name_m]
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m]
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m]
• [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Reid[/name_m]

[katinka]

First of all, I like [name_m]Grover[/name_m] and I suspect you are ahead of the curve in bringing it back. It ticks a lot of style boxes in terms of sound, vibe and meaning

I personally would go for option A (pick a different middle). Two middles can be nice but if it’s not your usual style then it might feel a bit random as you say, plus I am assuming your first child also has one middle? love [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] and [name_m]William[/name_m] with [name_m]Grover[/name_m], or [name_m]James[/name_m] and [name_m]Leon[/name_m] from your family names list. [name_m]Other[/name_m] ideas…

[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Samuel[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Nathaniel[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Frederick[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Inigo[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Cassius[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Tobias[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Matthias[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Dashiell[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Solomon[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Gabriel[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Henry[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Phineas[/name_m]
[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Willoughby[/name_m]

Of the double middle combos, I do really like [name_m]Oak[/name_m], [name_m]Dean[/name_m], [name_m]Reid[/name_m], [name_m]Ray[/name_m], [name_m]James[/name_m] and [name_m]Leon[/name_m]. I would steer clear of anything spelling GAAS (lovely though they are) as I feel the issue is still there.

[persephonescrown]

For me personally, I’d use a different middle, if other kids only had one middle. Possibly just name nerd perfectionism but I’d want to keep the pattern - and also if I was the kid, I’m not sure how much I’d like knowing that one of my middles was kind of an arbitrary choice to avoid being GAS.

I know this isn’t part of your question so sorry if this is overstepping but I don’t love the 3x -er endings in [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] S— (sorry husband!)

I think [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]William[/name_m] and [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] are both really handsome.

Also fwiw your family members can butt out - it’s your decision

[tallemaja]

I think that, since your husband already isn’t a massive fan of [name_m]Grover[/name_m], and the middle name [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is the only thing that would really sell it to him, I would either a) add on a second middle name, or b) not use [name_m]Grover[/name_m].

[kachenka]

I would find a different middle name that we both enjoyed. There is always more than one right choice and I wouldn’t want to give two middle names when my older children have the one.

That said, I honestly don’t think [name_m]Grover[/name_m] can work in the situation you’ve outlined. Your preferences are clashing and it looks like either option leads to a deal breaker.

I would focus on the other great names on ths short list for now… and be happily surprised if he gets fully on board with [name_m]Grover[/name_m] (there’s always a chance).

[ashthedreamer]

I love two middles anyway, so I would definitely go the two middle name route! I know a handful of families who used both 1 and 2 middles, so I don’t think it’s awful to do both. [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Ambrose[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] was actually my first idea, so I’m very fond of him! I also love [name_m]Leon[/name_m], [name_m]James[/name_m], [name_m]Oakes[/name_m], and [name_m]Zeb[/name_m]!

I adore two middles but I find it hard to suggest something with significance… but those are my favorites from your options!

[southern.maple]

If you’re going to take [name_m]Grover[/name_m] off your list, do it because you and/or your husband don’t think it’s the right name. [name_m]Not[/name_m] because some peanut from the peanut gallery made a dumb comment.

[Anna03]

Considering [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] is a fanily name. I would either stick to [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] or use the varition [name_m]Xander[/name_m] or [name_m]Sander[/name_m]

[Anna03]

If i had to choose a combination with 2 middle Names it would be.

[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Ray[/name_m] [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] Storer.

I would switch [name_m]Ray[/name_m] and [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]

[Greyblue]

I’d probably just do a different middle – but adding a second one feels like a perfection solution if you want [name_m]Alexander[/name_m] in there.

I really like [name_m]Oak[/name_m] for you, along with [name_m]Heath[/name_m], [name_m]Leon[/name_m] and [name_m]Zeb[/name_m] too

I really like [name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] too – and it breaks up the -er endings.

[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Leander[/name_m] (Leon + [name_m]Alexander[/name_m]) did come to mind but might not work

[atomicginge]

I’m genuinely curious if initials are huge thing where you’re from? I’ve never been referred to in my life by my initials.. but also, GAS isn’t the worst it could be. I wouldn’t solely make a decision on a name because of initials.

[CMV2254]

[name_m]Grover[/name_m] [name_m]Benjamin[/name_m] is my personal favorite! Agree the triple -er endings is a bit overkill.

And I totally had not considered how it would feel to learn that the only reason part of your name existed was to avoid being GAS. Good point!

[CMV2254]

Initials aren’t a huge deal and not something I typically put much stock into. If it spelled something ASS I probably wouldn’t go for it. Or one of my favorite girl combos would have had the initials BJS and my husband said absolutely no to giving a girl those initials. When we were kids both my initials and my brother’s initials happened to be two popular music television channels, so that was a random fact that kids pointed out to us back then, but I don’t know how much kids would plug into things like that these days.

[orangeblossom]

Grover Benjamin is my favourite too, a very handsome combination! I agree that I wouldn’t worry about initials too much. I have initials that could be seen as amusing but nobody has picked me up on it. I would only worry if they were something really obviously problematic, like KKK.