Would it be weird to use the middle name

@falalalalalalalallama , Wouldn't Steve have a non-'WASP' surname?
Would say Steve Badawi or Steve Chandrapandy not imply some mixed heritage?

I know someone with a very British sounding name and would go to an interview and know straight away that the interviewer had not been expecting a person of colour.

OP, are you prepared to share the culture in question? In my experience, it's rare for a culture to have absolutely no name-overlap with English. You can pretty much always find some names that are used in both cultures. I would go for one of those, if possible.

There are a lot of teachers on here saying things like "Oh, lots of kids at our school have a known-as name, it's totally not a problem!" Look, with respect, it's not a problem at a school because schools are full of teachers! Teachers receive specific instructions about the importance of getting names right and putting the right names on documents, and teachers are (on average) a lot more conscientious than your typical human being. Out there, once the kid has left school, of course it is going to be a massive headache to be known by their middle name not by their legal name, especially in these days of computerized records; the experiences of the posters on here are proof of this.

The issue is much more complex than that. Of course someone who's overtly racist in the UK would also be less likely to prefer someone at interview who's not white British.

But the discrimination that happens at the level of CVs, where there's widespread unconscious bias, with people with foreign-sounding names losing out on opportunities doesn't necessarily translate to the interview. Once people get through to the interview stage, they're at least in with a chance and if they shine at interview, it's possible that may outweigh any unconscious bias (or not).

Also, the person sifting the CVs may not be the same person doing the interviews - or only one of a panel - so it's possible the same unconscious bias may not be so strong at interview. (Although, on the other hand, it could be worse! Luck of the draw).

This may not be relevant to the OP, given she's said her DC is likely to be white-passing anyway, but just for info.

There is A LOT of evidence of discrimination on the basis of foreign-sounding names. It's not something we can wish away, sadly, and it's not just for jobs, that's just one example.

Maybe read the thread?

Why wouldn't you just give them the
Middle name option as a first name if that's what you intend to call them anyway?

@falalalalalalalallama , I don't need to read the article.
I think that people tend to recruit 'people like them' or someone who fits their idea of the person doing the role.

If the recruiter subconsciously wanted a white, English, male, MC, suited-and-booted candidate, I'd be ruled out at the interview stage anyway, as I am none of those.

I know you're worried about racism, but even if DC is called Steve l, will people be able to tell by looking him that he's not White British? In which case it doesn't really resolve anything, it possibly just makes a different issue. Even if it gets him an interview,if you think they won't recruit him because he's not white british, they can still underscore him

I think you should use the name you want and love first and put Steve in as the middle name. If he wants to use it at a y point, let him.

Please read the article I posted above, for starters. Of course it happens. Staggering that otherwise intelligent-sounding people don't know this!

I don't know that it happens.

If someone is going to discriminate on sex, colour, race or religion, they probably will anyway.

I was just coming on here to say this.

I've been known by my middle name since the day I was born and I don't appreciate it at all. It has been a total pain in the arse and 57 years of having to explain it regularly.

My parents said they did it because otherwise the initials would spell something odd, but I don't think they would have. I certainly can't work out what it would have been. If I ask them now they really can't explain it fully.

I do quite like the name I am known by, but I really wish it was my first name rather than middle.

My preference when naming my own children was that the first name on the birth certificate would be the one they would be known by.

Crossed posts.

If you know it happens, then what's your point B0G0F?

Why should they need to to avoid discrimination? It's illegal to discriminate by race, religion or colour.

Are you really that naive?!

Do you think discrimination doesn't happen because it's illegal?

And how could you prove it anyway, when a lot of the time it's unconscious bias on the part of the person doing the discrimation - i.e. they're not even aware they're doing it?!

There's loads of evidence of racial discrimination, recruitment being a classic example. Here's an article on it, worth reading if this is news to you.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/17/minority-ethnic-britons-face-shocking-job-discrimination

@Marshmallowtoastie , I'm not saying it doesn't happen.

If you applied for a job, it could well be that the hiring panel might not see your name, or they might be more inclined to interview someone with a name that suggested a certain profile. I've considered doing two more or less identical CVs, using a typical white, male, MC mid 40s male on one and my own on the other, but I suspect that it would only tell me what I'd expect it to.

@Marshmallowtoastie , just give her a name that doesn't have obvious spelling or pronunciation issues. Don't add a redundant first name.

I hate my redundant first name. It only gets used in negative situations.
I have nothing against the name itself, it just has never seemed part of my name, and it's dated. It's fine on other people.

If your DC wants to use a name that is more anglo-friendly, he or she can go by a nickname or diminutive.
Why should they need to to avoid discrimination? It's illegal to discriminate by race, religion or colour.

Just to say, the concerns that people have here, don't necessarily always come true!

My DC have non-English names. Some MNers said not to use them as they'd hate having to spell their names.

They're both old enough now (teen and pre-teen) to let me know that they love their names.

It will be a pain in the arse for your child. Just call them the name you will use

Don't put the known as name in the middle.
Something like Ava Sabiha Khan will get called Ava Khan in lots of day-to-day situations, and should she dislike the name Ava, she'll hate being called it.

If I put my full name on anything, everyone assumes that I go by the first name. I find that I've been allocated [email protected] or similar as work emails.

The full name goes on official records. Things like your medical records, passport etc. It's not much of an issue unless your sitting at the doctor's surgery/hospital/school/police station etc and they call out your name and it takes a while to figure they mean you.

I have a name that is Name2 Name1 Surname.
Something like Isla Melusine Whyte, but I'm known as Mel

Isla White is ridiculous but looks a lot more normal than Melusine Whyte.

Not necessarily relevant to the thred but
My parents insisted on the Melusine, but it just became Mel when I started work.
I got used to it.
People assume I am Melissa or Melanie and misspell Melusine A LOT.
People say things like why do you say your name is Melusine when it's Melanie.

My name isn't the one I've posted but does have similar issues.

I see- thanks for explaining. That does make sense, and I suppose whilst you always hope the world keeps getting more enlightened I can totally understand you wanting to prevent what’s happened to you from affecting your children.

Would you feel like this if your middle name was very likely to lose you job oppourtinites due to unconscious bias, though?

I would officially name your child the name they are going to be known as. I am known as my middle name but it's a pain then when you're at the doctors, dentists etc and always referred to as your first official name. It doesn't matter how many times you tell them you're known as a different name they'll always use the official name.

It bothered me the most when in hospital having my children and was never once called my known as name even through its stated in the notes.

And years ago, when DH (then boyfriend) booked a surprise holiday. I felt quite bad having to tell him that that's a lovely gesture but you've booked it in the wrong name and now we need to pay to change it.