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Baby names

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Original poster

Has anyone used one child’s middle name as another’s first?

33 replies

Namesnamesnames13 · 18/07/2026 21:25

Anyone else’s second child have one of their first child’s middle names as their first?

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BabblingBiddy · 23/07/2026 19:47

sittingonabeach · 20/07/2026 00:43

Doesn’t show a lot of imagination and treating them as individuals

The sisters I know also have a younger sister. She doesn't have her older sisters names. And she hated it growing up. Because rather than feeling like an individual, she felt like she wasn't part of the group.

gettingold55555 · 23/07/2026 17:03

I don’t think it matters and people are always saying middle names don’t matter so why would it

Gemstonebeach · 20/07/2026 08:50

I know sisters - Elspeth Jane and Janet Elizabeth.

MotherOfCrocodiles · 20/07/2026 08:39

I can see why you would. You have DD1 and use up your two favourite names of both grandma names or something, because you may never have another daughter.

then DD2 comes along and you haven’t actually said the middle name out loud since the christening, you want to make proper use of that middle name

makes sense to me

Pinkissmart · 20/07/2026 07:04

Why do this?

NuffSaidSam · 20/07/2026 03:56

I think it's better than giving your DC a third choice name.

If your two favourite names are Jacob and Alexander and DC1 is Jacob Alexander then I would call DC2 Alexander over choosing a name that you don't really like.

sittingonabeach · 20/07/2026 00:43

Doesn’t show a lot of imagination and treating them as individuals

ScruffMuffin · 20/07/2026 00:37

I know two sisters whose names go like this (except that none of these are the real names):

Sister 1 - Hannah Juliet Grace
Sister 2: Juliet Grace Elizabeth

I think I'd feel short changed if I were Sister 2.

Besidemyselfwithworry · 19/07/2026 16:58

My work colleague is one of 3 sisters and they all have their own first name and all have the same middle name which was their Grandma’s name - Elizabeth

My colleague has 2 girls they have this same middle name and 1 of her sisters has 2 girls and she’s done the same and then 3rd sister has a boy so has used this grandmothers husbands name the grandfather

I guess all families do things differently

InQuiresandplaceswheretheysing · 19/07/2026 16:55

thereisnomeaning · 19/07/2026 00:39

I know someone who did this. Opposite sexes though. Example: child #1 Samuel Justin. Child #2: Justine Sarah.

I met identical twins with opposite names

2differenttypesofpeople · 19/07/2026 16:54

I have but my first son died 2 hours after he was born. My second son was born 3 years later and it just felt right.

RitaIncognita · 19/07/2026 16:46

The Prince and Princess of Wales did it. Prince George is George Alexander Louis.

maudelovesharold · 19/07/2026 15:55

Yes. Dc2 and 3 both have first names (different!) which are dc1’s middle names.

darksided · 19/07/2026 15:51

Yes, I have three daughters with the same middle name, and it’s my youngest daughter’s first name.

TreatedAsOptional · 19/07/2026 15:39

My parents did this, so I have my sisters middle name as my first name. It’s never been a issue.
I always loved my middle name (separate from my sisters names) and I used that name for my daughter 🙃☺️

muddyford · 19/07/2026 15:32

A friend's son gave his two sons and a daughter the same middle name, something not sexed like Kim as it was a family name.

villamariavintrapp · 19/07/2026 15:13

@HotterEvenThoughtItsCooler actually I think this is genius! It's the only way to do it so that one isn't obviously a second-best choice!

MagicThanks · 19/07/2026 12:18

My first name is my sister’s middle name. Always felt like a hand me down tbh

HelenaWilson · 19/07/2026 11:39

There might be an issue later on, if the first child decided they’d prefer to go by their middle name instead of their first name.

They can do that anywhere they're not with their sibling - which will be most places when they're adults - and still go by their first name in the family.

QuaintBeaker · 19/07/2026 11:12

I would find it a bit odd i think. If i was the younger child I'd probably wonder why i didn't get my 'own' name.

But judging by comments on here it isn't all that unusual so...

Original poster
Namesnamesnames13 · 19/07/2026 11:09

Nomoredamnmats · 19/07/2026 10:42

There might be an issue later on, if the first child decided they’d prefer to go by their middle name instead of their first name.

Yes I had worried about that but they both have two middle names

OP posts:
HotterEvenThoughtItsCooler · 19/07/2026 11:09

I know someone who says they used up their three favourite girls names on their first daughter, so when they went on to have 2 further girls they just moved them around. Something like:

Catherine Louise Jane
Louise Jane Catherine
Jane Catherine Louise

I have to say it’s always struck me as rather strange but they seem happy with it & the girls don’t appear to be bothered!

stepupp · 19/07/2026 11:02

I don't really know why anyone would do this? Surely the only useful thing about having a middle name is being able to use it if you don't like your first name (I know a few people who have done this) - but if it's the same name as your sibling then that's no longer an option.

Nomoredamnmats · 19/07/2026 10:42

There might be an issue later on, if the first child decided they’d prefer to go by their middle name instead of their first name.

timoteigirl · 19/07/2026 10:37

I personally haven't but know people who have. I also know two mums who gave their own first name to both daughters.

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