Can I call my baby boy this.....

[babywantscake]

Hi there, I'm 35 weeks with my first and really struggling with a boy's name. DH likes very 'out there' names, I like the classics and family names.
We have decided on Rosa Joan for a girl (Joan was my Granny's name).
For a boy we both love Edwin but are struggling with a middle name. DH wants Edwin Galileo (we are very keen amateur astronomers) or Edwin Beowulf (I am not joking!). Safe alternative is Edwin Frederick (DH's Grandad), but neither of us mad keen.
What do you think...... is it cruel to give a child such an outlandish middle name?!? BTW our surname is Italian, very unusual and never pronounced correctly. Thanks!

[Avocadoes]

Middle names exist so you can vent your eccentricities without really impacting on your childrens' lives. Go for it. As a child he will occassionally complain but as he grows it'll become a badge of pride and a talking point.

I know someone with the middle name Blackadder. I am quite jealous of her!

[onimolap]

I think unusual names in the middle are great. I prefer Beowulf, but perhaps Galileo would fit the overall cadence of the name better.

[Violet5]

Hi, i don't see any problem with giving your son an outlandish middle name (better as a middle than a first in my opinion). Some people (like me) have just never used their middle name, or mentioned it, just not something that comes up, people have always just known me by my first name. My middle name is Caroline but i think apart from my parents and my husband probably no one else is aware of it.
My own children all have middle names but i tried to give them ones i felt were really nice just incase they grew up not liking their first name i'd chosen so they had the option to go by their middle name if they prefered.
Each to their own though but i can't see a problem with it

[KangarooCaught]

Both are fabulous mn! Am a Old English and Norse enthusiast, although I think I'd favour Galileo because of the link for both of you and the Italian connection.

[ValiumShimmer]

i think galileo would sound fab with an italian sur name.

belwulf though, how is that pronounced?

Edwin not outlandish at all.

[DasherandSmugly]

I think Galileo is a great middle name. Not so keen on Beowulf but he's a good strong role model.

FWIW my DS's middle name is after one of DH's heroes and it's a name we would never have used for a first name.

[darleneconnor]

middle names are meant to be embarassing

[ShoppingDays]

Galileo would be great! Not so keen on Beowulf. Love Frederick.

[TheMonster]

no. no you can't.Both middle names are ridiculous and Edwin is bad enough.

[BikeRunSki]

I have a very unsual middle name and I still hate it. Even if I don't use it, it gets out in the end - driving licence, passport, degree certificate....

[Whelk]

I'm hoping you have a girl. Your girl's name is wonderful.

I really don't think you should give him either of those middle names. A child is not some sort of extension of you. They are a person in their own right. Its just not fair to give them a name that reflects your hobby.

i don't love Edwin but at least he can be Ed!

Can you tell I hate my middle name?

[expectingno3]

What about taking the last part of Galileo and shortening it to Leo?
Edwin Leo sounds a great name I think.

[ChippingIn]

Good thinking expectingno3!

Fredrick is the only one of those I would use, but I don't like Edwin either... however, I don't like many of the names that others on here do, so I accept I must have quite a limited range of names I like.

[MelinaM]

I'm loving Galileo! x

[sharbie]

Edwyn is lovely what about Wolf as a middle name?

[wisteria12]

If you like Old English names, here are a few suggestions:

Edwin Bede
Edwin Alaric
Edwin Godric
Edwin Anselm
Edwin Swithun

I think Galileo flows better than Beowulf (even though I commend your choice - I wrote a dissertation on OE literature!)

[Gay40]

I love Edwin Galileo. Go for it!

[babywantscake]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions - I'm loving Leo and Bede! Very helpful to hear opinions on middle names and their importance. I have point-blank refused to consider any of DH's weird and wonderful first name suggestions, as I think a very unusual first name is something of a curse. I just can't decide whether I'm being mean not indulging DH's desire for an unusual middle name or whether I'm being sensible and my child will thank me in the future.
More mulling for me I think (or perhaps hoping for a girl as we are in agreement there!).....

[kreecherlivesupstairs]

Middle names are such a waste of paper [don't have one face]. DD on the other hand has three middle names because the woman in the hospital kept asking for more. She was born in Oman where everyone has at least 12 so I felt rude to stop.

[misdee]

My dd3 middle name is Dixie.

my ds middle name will in all liklihood be Quentin! will see if it suits him in the next few weeks when he arrives

[diddl]

I like Frederick Leo, or Leo Frederick.

Don´t like Edwin.

If you like Galileo as a name, use it, but not because it´s connected to a hobby-that seems really naff to me.

[SoupDragon]

From the ones you listed, Galileo, but Leo works really well.

one are really to my taste, but that's not the point. i am big campaigner for not saddling a child with a ridiculous name and i don't think Edwin fails my test :) Middle names are great for letting yourself go.

[evamummy]

I think Galileo is cool and has nice associations (as you're keen astronomers). So my vote goes to Edwin Galileo.

misdee, we have a Quentin (age 8) who suits his name perfectly . Good luck with the birth!