Middle names

[EmmieA]

I'm 38weeks and DH and I have a shortlist of about 5 first names for a girl, all very simple elegant classic names(we think), think Elizabeth etc. However, we really haven't thought about middle names at all and have never really considered not giving her one, for some reason it doesn't sit well with me. So just wondering how you all come to decide on middle names. Is it the ones you don't choose for first names or a different set?

[jdmummy]

im 30weeks and already panikin that i have yet to decide on a middle name so i really feeling 4 u. do u have any family names that would fit in nicely i.e ur 1st name, grandmothers names?

[Ineedsomesleep]

With DS we could barely decide on a first name so decided not to give a middle name. With DD I gave her the middle name which is the first name of a close friend of mine.

One of the names on your shortlist should be fine.

[EmmieA]

I'm reluctant to give her another name of first name shortlist in case have more children and May is both our nan's names but seems to have become very common.

[MelinaM]

How about Grace? ...for example Elizabeth Grace sounds lovely. I agree with you about May/Mai/Mae lovely name but very common at the mo
Ruth, Anne, Eve, Olive, Greer, Sage, there's also Rose but again very popular at the mo!

What are your shortlisted names, maybe we help you find the perfect one x

[EmmieA]

Shortlisted names are Elizabeth, Charlotte, Imogen, Hannah and my hubby's favourite is Annabel. Suggestions welcome for middle names. Thanks MelinaM

[MelinaM]

How about these...
Elizabeth Alice
Elizabeth Darcey
Elizabeth Florence
Elizabeth Frances
Elizabeth Grace
Elizabeth Greer
Elizabeth Honor
Elizabeth Hope
Elizabeth Josephine
Elizabeth Katherine
Elizabeth Olive
Elizabeth Pearl
Elizabeth Scarlett
Elizabeth Ruth
Elizabeth Violet

Charlotte Allegra
Charlotte Amelia
Charlotte Anaise
Charlotte Olivia
Charlotte Rachael
Charlotte Rose

Imogen Alexandra
Imogen Angelique
Imogen Grace
Imogen Iris
Imogen Isabella
Imogen Kate
Imogen Pearl
Imogen Violet

Hannah Claire
Hannah Kate
Hannah Louise
Hannah Marie

Annabel Autumn
Annabel Grace
Annabel Iris
Annabel Olive
Annabel Rose
Annabel Violet

[Hedwig3]

I love family names for the middle spot, are there any that you like/ someone special?

[conkertree]

Second (or third?) the family names as middle names. I love the link it gives to past generations.

[lowrib]

May, Grace and Rose are amazingly popular as middle names. IMO they're the default middle names of our time, much as Louise seemed to be when I was growing up, so if you don't want very popular then I'd avoid those.

I think middle names are a great chance to use a name which has meaning for you, but which you might not choose as first name. I think it's lovely for the child if there's a bit of a story behind them. I agree with Hedwig3 that a family name is a good one.

Or you might use the middle name to honour a favourite writer / actor so that you can tell your DD the story behind her name and she may feel an affinity with them. Or if you have any non-English cultural roots you could honour your culture(s) by using a name from that country.

I think lots of people give their DCs the unusual name they would have given as a first name if they had the guts (Or if teasing didn't exist, perhaps).

For us, we honoured DP's late father by giving DS his name as a middle name. It was also a classic name, to give DS an alternative if he decides he doesn't like the beautiful but fairly unusual first name we gave him.

Lovely choice of first names BTW.

[Chynah]

My DS middle name is a name I really love (but not as much as his first name) which I know DH would never agree to but happens to sound great with his first name.

DD middle name is a name I love and would have considered calling her if one of the shortenings wasn't so close to my own name - hence it was relegated to second name as I still really wanted to use it.

[Manda25]

May !!! ...so what if it is popular if it means something to you then use it. If I had a daughter her middle name would be Rose as it is my middle name and my nan's middle name ...I don't even like it ...but it means something.