first name as siblings middle name?

[Jw35]

What's the general consensus on re using a middle name? For example if you had an Eve Hazel would you call their sister Hazel? (Hazel Eleanor) I love the name and thought Eve was going to be my last!

Anyway I'm only 11 weeks, I have a boys name and girls names have been a nightmare! I'm not the type who leaves until the last minute, names do my head in!

These were on my list:

Olive (tricky because Livvy sounds like eldest's name)
Amelia (nn Millie would be the same sound as eldest)
Eleanor (ellie would be confusing with my eldest)
Mia

If I don't use Hazel I'm thinking about Mia Grace.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Why not?

Is eve called eve-hazel all the time?

[Jw35]

No just Eve! It's not double barrelled

[Ilovegummibears]

I would give every child their own name/s.

[Wardrobespierre]

Do it. I know two siblings with this set up and they really like the link. It's fine. Hazel is such a beautiful name.

[Jw35]

Thanks wardrobe!

[nextusername]

Sometimes people choose to be known by their middle name, so while it's unlikely, it could be confusing if that happened.

[BelfastSmile]

I have a friend who did this - DC1's middle name is DC4's first name. Most people don't know their full names anyway, so I don't think she's ever had any comments on it after the first few relatives.

I do wonder whether it would make fraud easier - the older one could steal the younger one's identity or something, by pretending he was known by his middle name when showing ID. Although presumably, as siblings, they'd have fair opportunity to steal each other's ID anyway.

[arielmanto]

My mother has five daughters and by number three she was convinced the pattern would break and she'd have boys.. so middle sister is Sarah Catherine and then number four is Catherine Olivia. I assume she was running out of names. Aside from a very occasional reminder when we look at old school reports etc, none of us ever think about it!

[BelfastSmile]

Incidentally, my granny had the same two names as her sister, but the other way around... Think "Mary Ann" and "Ann Mary". They had a younger brother who died very young, and then a second brother was born, and given the same name as the one who had died.

Then they had a sister who, for some reason, got a name all to herself.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

I wouldn't personally. What if Eve Hazel wanted to go by her mn which lots of people do. You could end up with 2 daughters using the name Hazel.

[Jw35]

How common is it to go by a mn though?

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

It is quite common but not overly common IYSWIM. I don't have a mn but assuming it wasn't any worse than my first name which is Clare I'd be using my mn, definitely.

[crumb04]

I think it's quite sweet, it's like you've named her after her sister!! I don't know how old she is but I think she would love that her new sister has her name xx

[Jw35]

Crum they will be 19 months apart

[Sleepingtom]

I think it is a nice idea and not a problem at all. I also used up my two favourite names on DD so would have the same dilemma!

[GracieGraives]

I am the 3rd daughter in my family and my first name is my sisters middle name. Didn't bother me at all. It made us feel linked and as I love my name I felt lucky I got to use it as a first.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

There is a tradition somewhere, possibly jersey/guernsey, where twins get the same names but reversed.

Alfred Brian and Brian Alfred for example.

[Quodlibet]

My DP's name is his older brother's middle name. I think it's a bit odd (though I am likewise stumped for names for DC2 and wish I hadn't used all the ones I like on Dd...

[BoBo90]

My Husbands first name is the same as his older brothers middle name and he doesn't like it. He feels a bit like his mum couldn't be bothered to give him his own name so just used one she gave her first born.

It wont cause any huge problems or drama but I personaly wouldnt do that as everyone wants their own identity and in DH's view he feels his mum didn't give him the thought and time she gave his other brothers.

[SoWhite]

No, kids deserve their own names in full.

The only exception I would make was if their older sibling had died before the younger was born, and the name was being used in tribute.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

Lots of lovely names about for girls - let her have her own! What about the others who don't get to 'name' their sister?

[changename54]

Don't do it. A middle name is essentially a "spare" name in case you choose not to use your first name, so you would be depriving Eve of that choice.

My parents did this and it's been a bug-bear for DB1. He hates his first name, would ideally change to his middle name but can't because it's DB2's name.

I can think of at least 7 family members who are known by their middle names, so it's a pretty common thing.