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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask if anyone calls their DC by their middle name?

79 replies

purplestar0 · 31/08/2014 22:23

Our DD has a first and middle name (and surname!). She is 2 and since she was born we have been increasingly using her middle name as it's easier to say, less frilly than her first, and we just prefer it.

Does anyone else call their DC by their middle name and if so, what was your reason? Does it ever cause any confusion - do others use their middle name or first name?

OP posts:

hoobypickypicky · 31/08/2014 22:25

Only when they're in trouble. Then it becomes "Firstname Secondname! Get here now!"

sillymillyb · 31/08/2014 22:28

I the same as hooby. Ds is first and second name when he's in trouble or I'm trying to cajole him a bit

HygieneFreak · 31/08/2014 22:28

I dont call dd by her middle name, but i ve known around 7 people who are known by their middle name.

I never understood why the parents didnt give them their middle name as their first name if they prefer that name

LumpenproletariatAndProud · 31/08/2014 22:28

Yes, about 50% of the time.

namelessposter · 31/08/2014 22:30

Yes. Her first name is her 'formal' name. Middle name is her 'family ' name.

MaureenMLove · 31/08/2014 22:30

I use her first and second name. Her second name is Louise, so I tag Lou onto her first name.

pigsDOfly · 31/08/2014 22:31

Yes, one of my children has always been called by her middle name.

We had the two names we wanted to call her, but had we given her our preferred name as her first name her initials would have spelled out a word that we felt might have resulted in her being teased at school so we gave her what would have been her middle name as her first name.

She has been called by her middle name since birth and most people she knows have no idea it isn't actually her first name.

FreeSpirit89 · 31/08/2014 22:32

Same as hooby, only when he is in trouble.

If you like it no big deal I suppose.

WeAllHaveWings · 31/08/2014 22:33

If you prefer her middle name I would ask everyone to call her that to prevent confusion for her and later at nursery/school

Mil and fil were both known by their middle names since birth. Their first names were horrendous family names and middle names were what their parents wanted. First names only ever appeared on official paperwork.

keepingmum121 · 31/08/2014 22:33

Yes because pil insisted on giving both dds a name. Dd1 got their choice as her second name. When dd2 was born, they said that as I and h had chosen the first name with dd1, it was their turn. Result, dd2 is known by her middle name (the one we chose).

Mydelilah · 31/08/2014 22:34

My Dad was always called his middle name throughout his childhood. He dropped his first name by deed-poll when he became an adult. If you prefer the middle name, go with it

Icimoi · 31/08/2014 22:34

My db is known by his second name. I've never really got down to the bottom of the reason for it, as his first name is really nicer than his second one - one version is that my df started using it as a joke and it stuck, another is that my df said he just looked like a (second name).

MomOfABeast · 31/08/2014 22:35

My husband started getting unofficially called by his middle name since he was about 2. One he started school he was only known by the middle name and now it's on some official documents but not all, although his parents never officially changed it. Surprisingly it never actually causes him any problems (and we've moved countries, got married etc.) most people we know would ave no idea what his original name is.

unlucky83 · 31/08/2014 22:37

My DB (40+) has always been called by his middle name. First name is a family name which my DM didn't like -she chose his middle name ..and it doesn't sound right the other way round.
His middle name is the name he is known as...only ever used his first name at the doctors etc. (Or when he was being 'full name' told off)
At school the teachers were told he was called middle name and they used it ..In fact the funding forms we get for 3 yos from the council now have a 'known as' box as well as their full name...
I guess it is the same as me - I have a long first name but am usually know by the shortened version - and my DCs have two surnames but are generally called by just one....in fact just remembered that I know someone else who uses their middle name - only realised when I saw their initials on something and couldn't work out who it was!
If your DC suits the middle name best and you like it - just go for it...

GrouchyKiwi · 31/08/2014 22:42

Not me, but my sister is known by her middle name because her first name is unpronounceable by all but Dutch people. Three of my aunties are also known by their middle names, I assume because their first names are a little odd.

I'd also guess that their names are that way around because it sounded better than switching them and their parents liked the names.

RedNosedClone · 31/08/2014 22:43

I have been called by my middle name since I was a week old. My mother didn't like the way people were pronouncing my first name, as the local accent made it sound like another -lower class- name

It's never been a problem, I don't see why it would be - it's easy enough to explain that I'm known by my second name.

My two names wouldn't sound right the other way round anyway, as they wouldn't flow.

But FWiW I have never much liked my second name as it was considered a bit unusual when I was a child, and I often had to repeat it. Then it became quite popular about 20 years later, but as a second name. I''ve always preferred my first name, but don't use it

cheepsskram · 31/08/2014 22:43

I am known by my middle name. I wouldn't change my name now but I'd never call my children by their middle names. Right pain in the arse Paperwork wise. People telling me my "real name was xxx" when they found out I was xxx yyy. Trying to remember if Z company has me as xxx or yyy on their books for appointments etc.

Total pain in the arse. Add to that a double barrelled surname. ...

treetrunkthighs · 31/08/2014 22:47

Ha ha! We gave dd2 a name that couldn't easily be shortened, not deliberately. Her middle name is Ann. So now she's affectionately know as Ann Fanny.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 31/08/2014 23:02

DH is known by his middle name as all the oldest boys in his family had the same first name. It's bloody confusing and I always get the fear when I'm booking plane tickets that I'll book them in the wrong name.

Needless to say ds has a name of his own!

If you are going to go this way op I'd think about getting dd's name order changed officially.

alemci · 31/08/2014 23:08

both my mum and mil were/called their middle names, seemed to be the done thing. very confusing with post because mum shared the same initial with dad and brother.

DontCallMeBaby · 31/08/2014 23:14

My dad's known entirely by his middle name, always has been. His middle brother is known my his middle name to blood family and his SILs only, first name to everyone else. Their eldest brother was always known by his first name, but his son is known by his middle name. Which is the same as my dad's. My grandmother did once say to me she didn't know why she didn't just call them the names she wanted them known by. But then I guess middle uncle wouldn't have had the choice to go by his actual first name later in life, and my dad wouldn't be able to detect real letters versus spam.

DramaAlpaca · 31/08/2014 23:21

I've always been known by my middle name, and so has my brother. I have no idea why our parents gave us first names they didn't intend to use.

I'm actually glad I'm known by my middle name because I hate my first name.

All my DC are known by their first names.

bellybuttonfairy · 01/09/2014 00:57

My db is known by his middle name. I have no idea why and hadnt really thought why. Both his first and second name are simple unoffensive names. I must ask my mum.

EmeraldLion · 01/09/2014 01:07

Not a middle name, but ds1 is known by his initials. So he's Adam James Surname (for instance) and is known to all as AJ. It's because he has the same first name as DH, which cannot be shortened, so we wanted a different name to distinguish him by.

It doesn't cause any confusion. Everyone, teachers, friends etc know him as AJ. On the odd occasion someone calls out 'Adam' (like at the dentist), he will answer to that initially, then just drops in 'call me AJ'. He's 6 and learnt this early lol.

PhaedraIsMyName · 01/09/2014 01:17

I have 3 friends all known by their middle names. No idea why.

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