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Two middle names - PITA or not a problem?

28 replies

Choccyhobnob · 17/07/2013 09:43

I'm not pregnant, me and DH are going to start ttc next year but I'm still thinking about baby names! Wondered how people with 2 middle names found it, is it a total PITA?

Nobody in my family has 2 middle names, I don't even know anybody with 2 middle names to ask, I can just imagine it being a real nightmare on forms and stuff? Anyone care to share their experiences of having 2 middle names?

Thanks

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fanjodisfunction · 17/07/2013 09:46

I have two middle names, I love it.

The only thing with forms is sometimes there isn't enough room for both and a lot of the time especially medical records they seam to miss my second middle name off. But it does make me more unique to have two middle names, I had a very common last name and a very populat first name so the middle names helped me be more unique.

My brother has two middle names too, as does my DD1, and we have choosen two for our next baby.

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Reiltin · 17/07/2013 09:48

I have two middle names - my grandmothers' names. I really like both of them being represented but it meant I never used them, fully or the initials, as two is a bit too much for day-to-day. We've solved this problem with dd by using a combo: Mary & Ann has become Marianne.

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isisisis · 17/07/2013 09:53

My mum & MIL both have 3 middle names - never been a problem.

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Dontletthemgetyoudown · 17/07/2013 09:57

all of my dc have 2 middle names, I only have one middle name. I cant say its caused any problems anywhere. the only one is ds2 has two long names so space can be tight on forms.

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Choccyhobnob · 17/07/2013 10:03

fanjo so when do you actually use them? And does it make things not legal if you can't fit both of them on there? lol stupid questions probably! Any future DD would have the middle name Sophie or Sophia after my sister but I love the name Luna and if it turns out I'm not brave enough to use it as a first name (due to some MN comments that it would be cruel!) I'd want it included as a middle name too.

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notso · 17/07/2013 10:05

I have two and it's not really a PITA. It was worse before I got married as my surname was longer and there was often not enough room but now my surname only has 4 letters so it's not a problem.
We only gave DC one middle name but I wish we had given them two now.

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trapezegirl · 17/07/2013 10:07

DH has three of the things and loves them. He wants our DD-to-be to have two or three middle names as well. Can be a pain on forms though.

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Sparklysilversequins · 17/07/2013 10:12

Both mine do. Never been an issue. Dd loves having two, thinks it makes her special Smile.

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Bowlersarm · 17/07/2013 10:14

Love having two middle names. Me and two DSes have two, DH and 1 DS only have one middle name, poor things.

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Choccyhobnob · 17/07/2013 10:22

To all of you who love it, if you have to leave it off half of forms etc does it make it worth having? Or is it more of a personal identity thing? When I think of who I am I think firstname middlename last name even though 95% of the time you only ever use first and last. Is it that kind of thing?

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DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 17/07/2013 10:28

If the surname is quite popular in your area, having 3 names before the surname is going to lessen the chance dramatically of anyone else with it experiencing confusion on registers, getting mail etc.

Back in school Catholic friends always added their confirmation names so they gloried in extra initials, maybe that was just round our way.

Choose short middle names and it's less awkward fitting them on forms Wink.

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Choccyhobnob · 17/07/2013 10:38

The only people in the country with our surname are related to us so it's definitely not popular! lol

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Bowlersarm · 17/07/2013 11:23

I can't remember not fitting all of the names on forms.

Although we do have a short surname.

It's quite nice having a few initials, feels more interesting.

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fanjodisfunction · 17/07/2013 11:43

It was never a problem, and no it never made forms illegal. I love having two middle names, one would be boring to me. And I too think of myself as my ful name.

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littlepeas · 17/07/2013 13:35

I'm going to buck the trend and say I don't like it. All 3 of my names plus surname rarely fits onto forms, my third initial is regularly missed off by banks and so on, it sounds a bit snotty to my ears, there are the same number of syllables in my first name as there as in my dh's entire name and eight more thereafter......my dc each have one middle name and that is sufficient.

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NotMyChashkaChai · 17/07/2013 19:48

Dd has two middle names. Both 4 letters long first mn is two syllables, second is only one so they both flow quite well together and it doesn't sound like she has an overly long name. She's only 7 months so I don't know if she finds it a pita yet!

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Happymum22 · 17/07/2013 23:18

All my DC have two and love it, they all day they will give their DC two.
We balanced the combinations of long and short names to make sure none had inconveniently long names.

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Choccyhobnob · 18/07/2013 10:46

Well after more random baby name talk with my DH last night (like I said we're not even ttc at the mo!) he is completely adamant that he would call a little girl Luna anyway no matter what anyone thought - he is obviously "collosally arrogant" (to quote a poster on another thread I started about the name) and doesn't care about the mental anguish it will cause our future dd Grin so looks like there won't be a need for two middle names after all....

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HeirToTheIronThrone · 18/07/2013 10:49

I have two quite long ones. I like them as they are both family names with some meaning. But I do have to miss the second one off forms sometimes as it won't fit - the bank for eg thinks I only have one, though this never seems to have caused any issues...

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HeirToTheIronThrone · 18/07/2013 10:51

Posted too soon - was going to add, the only other inconvenience that has come up is that DP has no middle names, we are getting married later in the year and he is put out that his vows are going to take twice as long as mine as he has to keep repeating all my names :)

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Bugabooed · 18/07/2013 10:53

I have two middle names, and so do my DC. I have never ever found it a problem (only ever a positive) and my names are all fairly long! If you do choose Luna as a first name, you can still choose to have 2 middle names for her! Don't take any notice of other people re their thoughts on the name........ Your baby, your choice!

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winkygirl · 18/07/2013 19:53

I have a Madeleine Ann Florence and a James Christopher Eric - never had problems filling in forms! Their first names are new but their middle names are those of dear family members.

When they were babies/toddlers I used to sing a song I made up to include their names to help them remember them e.g. "Maddie Moo, Maddie Moo, she is a girl who has three names, one is Madeleine, one is Ann and the other one is Florence..." and used to sing it whenever I changed their nappies/in the bath etc.

Oh and our surname has 7 letters in case that helps!

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ArabellaBeaumaris · 18/07/2013 20:41

I have two middle names, so do my DC. Never been a problem.

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forevergreek · 18/07/2013 22:12

Our ds's have 2 middle names. It means we could fit in both nationalities easier :) so in order English, Greek, English, Greek.

Ds1- A Thaddeus James L
Ds2 - C Leonidas John L

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UniS · 18/07/2013 22:14

not a problem, looks distinguished on a cricket score card.

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