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Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Baby names

Struggling between 3 middle names

21 replies

YellowPirate · 14/05/2016 21:29

Our son has two middle names, one from each side of the family and we plan to do the same with no. 2, due soon.

However, I can't decide on 'mine'. One Grandma died 15 years ago and I have always said I would use her name. My other Grandma just died though and I was very close to her so I'd love to use hers too.

I can't choose between my two Grandmas, but equally it feels a bit over the top to have 3 middle names. Dh would (reluctantly) agree to 3, but wouldn't drop the name from his side.

What would you do???

X

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FuzzyOwl · 14/05/2016 21:33

I would have all three.

manicinsomniac · 14/05/2016 21:46

What are the names? Is there a way of combining them? (eg Jessica and Amy = Jessamy or Alice and Leah = Alicia)

If not, I would go for 3 middle names. You don't have to use them!

Veryflummoxed · 14/05/2016 21:47

Have both. Any chance you could hyphenate them, then it would still be technically two middle names.

YellowPirate · 14/05/2016 22:05

Alice, Peggy and Olwen, so all reasonably short. I'm not sure we could merge them though. I did suggest hyphenating to him earlier ;) I guess an alternative is to use one as a first name, but we're very attached to our chosen first name! X

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notagiraffe · 14/05/2016 22:06

You could use Polly which is a mix of Peggy and Olwen?

FuzzyOwl · 14/05/2016 22:15

Honestly, just use all three. It will only ever be on official forms that she will need to put them all down and she'll probably get away with just the initial for the last one.

Mottled · 15/05/2016 08:36

All nice names. If you don't think that there will be a DC3 you should us the 3 middle names.

1horatio · 15/05/2016 09:24

I would have all three.
Unless you could find/create one name that honours both of your Grandmas in some way.... Or maybe a name with a meaning that describes both your Grandmas?

Veryflummoxed · 15/05/2016 11:16

Pretty short names, they flow well. Have all three.

Veryflummoxed · 15/05/2016 11:20

If one of the Grandma's names was Olwen then either of the other names would go well in front of it with a hyphen then you'd have one middle name from each side.

YellowPirate · 15/05/2016 16:54

Thanks, I was hoping that the consensus would be to use 3 ;)

However, dh has just thrown a spanner in the works. 'His' name (Alice) is his mum's maiden name. He's now decided that seen as we used grandfathers' names for our son, he ought to use his grandmothers' names for a daughter. And he thinks he can't leave one out. Well I think 4 middle names is completely ridiculous so it's back to square one! X

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IoraRua · 15/05/2016 17:14

Well, if you can't leave one out I don't see how he can. So it's either 4 or back to square one...

nectarini1983 · 15/05/2016 17:16

Use all three or scrap your grandmas and use your mum's name.

nectarini1983 · 15/05/2016 17:21

4 middle names is ridiculous imo and if I'm really honest I couldn't inflict any of the three potential names mentioned on either of my daughters. I dearly loved both of my nans but no way was I going to pass on their names that even they didn't like! I really think a brand new life deserves a name all of their own - no emotional baggage of people that sadly they'll never meet.

lamusic · 15/05/2016 17:40

Could you use Peggy-Alice Olwen?

Mishaps · 15/05/2016 17:45

Never use a name that begins with a vowel as a middle name - it can create words that you do not expect!

Dogolphin · 15/05/2016 17:53

Back to choosing one each? I would go with Olwen, its lovely!

Something Olwen Alice Surname

GoldPlatedBacon · 15/05/2016 18:07

Just use a name you both like and forget family names

nooka · 15/05/2016 20:19

I have two middle names and wish I only had one because often you can only give a single middle initial (eg many credit cards, booking plane tickets etc) and I hate seeing my name 'wrong'. Having three middle names would I think be excessive, and more than that verging on silly.

YellowPirate · 15/05/2016 20:45

I love all 3 of them, wouldn't think of it as 'inflicting' them at all - in fact I'd happily use any of them as a first name! Think we're back to Olwen and whichever dh chooses from his side. For me, middle names are a way to honour family members, I don't see the point in choosing a middle name that doesn't mean anything, for us anyway. Just feel a bit sad that I can't have my other grannie's name in there somewhere. Maybe if we have a surprise no. 3.... X

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YellowPirate · 15/05/2016 20:49

Funny Nooka, I have 1 and always wished I had 2!

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