To think middle names are pointless

since people name their kids the same names ,uk scandi,etc
a middle name is for separating them
writing websites learned that even "odd" are common
40years ago/dragon bobula found 6 alive ones my name is not real common found 5 in the states ,had to prove i was not any of them

I think it's a nice opportunity to honour a family member, or perhaps to use a name that you weren't brave enough to use as a first name.... saying that we did neither of those things, we just picked a name that flowed and that we liked!

I always wanted a middle name but my parents thought they were pretentious. I am now married with a very common surname. I had to adopt a middle name for my work email so now I'm AnnZ.Smith@ gmail to distinguish me from all the other Ann Smiths (not my actual name but similar) in this big company.

I think it can give people the opportunity to use one fairly traditional name and one that's a bit more unique or imaginative. For example if someone finds their first name too dull/too wacky, they can use their middle name if it's having a different vibe.
I have a very generic 'boring' trad first name and a very unique middle name. I like the way it's both.
But if you can't pick one or don't have family names etc you'd like to use then of course there is no need. It's true it wouldn't come up in any meaningful sense across someone's life whether they had one or not.

I like my middle name, it's nicer than my first name but I don't use it as such because people ask stupid questions all the time (can't say what it is as it's very rare and would probably out me lol).

All my family have middle names so I gave one to ds. Nobody in OHs family have one and I find it weird.

Sometimes it offers scope to give a nod to a family member (alive or dead) when you do not want to use the family name as a first name. And that can make someone happy.

I am mixed race. I have an Asian first name and English middle name. If I want better service from a company I use my English name. Comes in handy

It's obviously an extra distinction if someone has the same first and surname. I just chose family-linked middle names for my 2 kids. I wasn't too fussed about them but the grandparents seem really pleased with the family links which is nice.

Only read the first page but surprised that so far no one mentioned the possibility of several people with the same name. There are several people with the same name as mine, I'm glad I have a middle name. Colleague of mine nearly got arrested because he shared a name with a murderer.

Ideally they'd check the date and place of birth but this information isn't always available and I've also seen the case of two people with the same name, born on the same day in the same place !

Aside from that it's nice to get to use a name that I liked but just not quite as much as the first name, or as a little wink to the child's history. For instance my daughter was born in south america and her middle name is the latin name of a plant that originates from that region.

Non of DH's family have middle names. I don't think it has been a hindrance in their lives.

My mum would berate me with my first name and middle name, to make her point! But I see what you say, I don't like my DDs middle name (outvoted) so I don't use it.

My mum's family had Mary/Maria/Marie as a name to hand down but my dad liked Louise and so mum relented!

I work in HR and lots of people use their middle name as their first name. Their actual colleagues wouldn't even know that was the case.

Sometimes I can tell why they do it (ugly or daft name), others it's because their first name was a family name which they were given but never expected to be called (I don't understand that one but it is a thing).

I think lots of people use middle name to honour a relative. Especially if it is an old fashioned name,

I have three middle names and use them all so they're not pointless to me. I also use them for identifying people, especially if you have an Irish family where everybody is called Michael or Mary.

I was jealous that my cousins had middle names and we didn't.

Can be useful if you use initials at work or school to differentiate between you and someone else with same initials for first and last name.
I have same first name as sister in law and we both have same surnames so can be useful for legal purpose too.
An aunt hated her first name so always went by her middle name.
But as a rule middle names don't get used much, but I think its a nice tradition.

I like my middle name and I use it. I would not want just two names.

My late dad was of this opinion,hence why I nor my 2 brothers have middle names. I had a hell of a job throughout my childhood and teens convincing people that I didn't have a middle name. The most common response was that they would say 'Its something awful isn't it?' ,so I didn't want to tell them!

I think it's a chance to give your baby something meaningful that you don't necessarily want as the first name. My middle name is after a grandparent and my son's middle name is my dad's name too. I know a little girl with middle name 'hope' which the parents chose for a reason.

But yes I admit my bil and sil have just given thier children random names they liked and I do think that's a bit pointless.

I don't have a middle name either 😊 my dad filled out the forms wrong and I got 2 first names instead 😆

My family and DHs family never did them and DD doesn’t have one either.

Not pointless, we like ours. And DS3 first name didn't exactly stick, middle name came handy

With a common surname, it’s very useful to have a middle name or two!

DH shares a first and last name, and date of birth, with someone wanted by interpol. He has been stopped so many times when travelling and grilled. His middle name has saved him from plenty a tricky situation. We also get loads of debt collection letters where companies are trying to track people down with his name, and he then has to ‘prove’ it’s not him. It’s frustrating and annoying.

The dc have two middle names each, both with family connections on each side, as they also have the super common surname. I’m hoping they won’t get the same level of hassle!

Completely agree!

I don't have a middle name and neither does my DD.

I instantly heard this when I read your post!! 🤣🤣

My children don't have middle names.