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How many middle names are too many?

38 replies

4andcounting · 29/09/2012 22:36

Just wondering what peoples opinions on this are

Myself and my siblings each have 3 middle names, although they are next to never used and when they are it's normally only the first middle name

OP posts:
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Narked · 29/09/2012 22:56

Two max (sorry!)

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firsttimemama · 29/09/2012 23:00

3

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PacificDogwood · 29/09/2012 23:01

Well, my 4 boys have 2 middle names each, so more than that is too many, obviously Wink. You did ask!

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manicinsomniac · 30/09/2012 00:57

I think 3 is too many

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Sinkingfeeling · 30/09/2012 01:07

dd3 has 2 middle names and I thought that was really one too many, but indulged myself anyway as I knew she would be the last dc and needed to use up my stash of good names!

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Pochemuchka · 30/09/2012 01:11

I have 2 middle names and as a result my DC have none.
2 is definitely too many.

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TodaysAGoodDay · 30/09/2012 01:27

I have 3 middle names, so five in all, and it's too many, especially on official forms that require your full name and don't give you enough space. And yes, I'm looking at you, UK Passport Agency!

I'd only give one middle name, it's easier that way IMO.

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Cezella · 30/09/2012 01:47

My friend has ELEVEN middle names plus a double barrel surname giving her a total of fourteen names altogether. It's stupid, no one ever remembers them (although she has a habit of interchanging them on her Facebook profile every now and then) and if anything it means that her middle names are even less significant than usual. Much nicer to have one really special middle name than eleven random ones for fun on the birth certificate!

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arghhhmiddleage · 30/09/2012 01:51

I've always thought that if I had kids I'd give them two. But that may be because I don't have one and have always felt a little bit deprived :).

In all honestly, isn't anything more than two going to appear a lot bit pretentious?

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HolyAutumnGoldBatman · 30/09/2012 04:08

One is best, two is ok at a push.

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ValiumQueen · 30/09/2012 05:28

Two at the most. One if surname is double barrelled.

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nooka · 30/09/2012 05:43

One is just fine. I have two and find it a bit of a nuisance (for forms and such like which often only allow on middle name/initial), my children have one each. Not having any makes a name a bit plain though I think.

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Gugglebum · 30/09/2012 06:44

I cringe at more than two, myself. My children each have one, but I could see using two in some instances.

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MikeLitoris · 30/09/2012 07:16

Ds has two but they are quite long names.

I only use one for forms as its roo much faff using both and I don't really like either of them tbh.

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QOD · 30/09/2012 07:42

A football teams worth is to many, any other amount, it's up to you

My dd has 2 and whines about it but hey .... My choice

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LauraPalmerPlusOne · 30/09/2012 10:39

We're giving our baby one middle name (which is the same as my own middle name) but we're also giving him both of our surnames (non-barrelled). In effect it's the same as two middle names (4 names total) which I think is the absolute maximum number I would ever hang bestow on a child.

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imustbepatient · 30/09/2012 13:30

I have 2 as does DH hence so does DC1 and soon to arrive DC2 will also. We love that it feels a bit like a new family tradition for our little family. Plus you get to use more of the names you can't decide on from your short list!

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YouMayLogOut · 30/09/2012 16:01

2 is too many.

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Labootin · 30/09/2012 16:05

Surely it's a middle name because it goes IN THE MIDDLE

Dcs have one Which are both family names or they would just be x labootin and y labootin

Less is more

[shudders at eleven... Too try hard and bloody annoying for the child]

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Teahouse · 30/09/2012 16:09

My kids have 2 middle names; one from each side of the family so they have a chosen name from parents, and a life long connection to their grandparents too.

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PaintingTheFlowersRed · 30/09/2012 16:12

For me, one is perfect, 2 is acceptable, more than 2 is too much.

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septemberpie · 30/09/2012 18:21

My kids also have 2 middle names for the same reasons as Teahouse. I just felt really strongly about creating a link with the past and it needed to be names from both sides of the family to be fair Smile

It's more important that the names go nicely together than how many they have IMO.

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gazzalw · 30/09/2012 18:28

Yes, I agree with Teahouse and Septemberpie - ours both have two...and also it gives them options if they decide they don't like their given names!

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Ham69 · 30/09/2012 18:38

I think it depends on the situation.
My DD has 2 middle names and a double barrelled surname. That is because I really felt it was important to use my late mum's name but it didn't sound right next to her chosen name. I put a name in between to make it flow better.

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PacificDogwood · 30/09/2012 19:47

11 middlenames!!

I struggle all 8 of my 4 boys, so kind of find myself agreeing with those of you who say 2 are too many Blush

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