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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Middle Name for previous child as first name for next?

30 replies

missingmargarita · 13/06/2014 20:05

Has anyone chosen the middle name for one of their previous children as the first name for their next?

We used one of my favourite names as the middle name for our eldest, who is still only little. I worried at the time that I might be using up a name I would want to use as a first name in the future, but figured we might never have another child of the same gender. However, now we are!

Wondering if my eldest might be upset if we use their middle name for the next child, or if the next child might be upset that we didn't come up with something new?

This baby naming business is so hard!!! There seem to be pitfalls everywhere!!

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SixImpossible · 13/06/2014 21:19

IMO each child is an individual and should have their own, individual, name. So, my opinion is no, don't do it.

RabbitSaysWoof · 13/06/2014 21:16

I think it depends how significant middle names are in your family, I didn't now I had one until I was older and it came up in conversation.
Would you care if you were the younger child with older siblings middle name? I think I'd struggle to see it as a problem.

Alita7 · 13/06/2014 21:12

I would avoid it if possible. However only 2 girls names stand out for us (that are different enough to use both anyway) and I think it's unlikely well have two girls as he already has 3, but then is it more likely? Anyway using the second name as a middle name enables us to use another nickname (my favourite nickname!) for this baby if It's a girl but it would make me reluctant to use that name for a 2nd girl. So not sure what to do there!

I don't think it's the end of the world as you don't use your mn too often but I'd still rather not do it. In theory you could use your dds first name as mn to make it even, then they'd have the same names in reverse, but I do think that's a little twee.

Montsti · 13/06/2014 20:32

I would have if dc3 had been a boy but, as it happens it's a girl so no problem on that front.

Personally I don't see a problem with it!

falgelednl · 13/06/2014 20:18

This happened in DP's family. DP is the older one - his middle name, with a slightly different spelling but the same pronunciation, was chosen as his younger brother's first name.

As soon as he could, younger brother changed his name and is now known as something totally different but with same initial.

Not sure why their parents did this - is not even an unusual or particularly interesting name so unlikely to have been a favourite.

I would not do it personally.