To think middle names are pointless

[RandomUser456878]

We’ve just had a baby boy & we are deciding on names. We’ve chosen a first name & stuck on middle names, just because it’s the norm

Then it occurred to me, not once in my life has anybody used my middle name so they’re literally pointless

I searched mumsnet & there’s loads of posts asking for a good middle name for {insert name}

Other than maybe a family name, whats the point in them?

Utilitarianism! Where would be without it…. Where would we be if it was all we have.

They’re very useful for indicating to a child that you’re cross with them!

I agree. I don’t have one and would have happily not bothered giving DDs middle names. DH wanted to though so we did because I don’t have any strong feeling against it.

Totally agree, completely pointless

I agree they're pretty pointless so I always wonder why people agonise over them on Mumsnet! Having said that, I do like having a middle name - not sure why, I just do! I also liked the fact I honoured my mother by using her name as a middle name for DD. My DS also has a meaningful middle name.

I liked the opportunity to include a family name for my children - not one that would be a great first name now for everyday use (it’s not these, but along the lines of Percy, Fanny etc) but as a rarely used middle name I like that there’s a family link. It’s also useful to have middle names to distinguish between multiple “Thomas Smith”s in the family tree.

If you don’t want to give one or use one then don’t. They’re not compulsory!

@Moglet4 if I use my sons middle name he knows he's in trouble 😂😂😂

I agree, I have one, DH doesn’t, we didn’t give DS one

Yeah they are pointless as nobody uses them day to day, but we chose a family name for my sons middle name and it's special to us that he has it.

It is very practical when you work in administration. "Which Jen Jones worked overtime? Is it Jennifer Muriel Jones or Jennifer Mabel Jones?"

A tribute the grandparents and ensuring a name gets passed down generations and loved ones remembered.

I like my middle name because I am named after a relative. I like thinking I have that connection with her. Not pointless for me.

I loved having two middle names as a child. It’s part of my identity. My mothers nickname fir me was my middle name. It’s also away of honouring family/friends. Both mine are the names of two maiden sisters who helped raise my father when his mother lived abroad. My sister has both grandmothers’ names. My son has both his grandfathers’ names as middle names.
I remember a friend wondering why she only had a first and last name and no middle!

In catholic countries, first names had to be saints. Middle names didn't. Many people used their middle names day to day. Hence middle names being very useful.

I couldn’t be bothered but DH wanted too, and not a hill I was prepared to die on. To make it even better, he wanted the same middle name across any kids we had, so he chose a unisex name I honestly had no thoughts about either way. Again, wasn’t the hill for me.

My children both have two middle names -both family names. Using them gave great pleasure to several people, and both children, now adults, like that very much.

It’s more for honouring family members and/or keeping names alive in the family. My middle names are after grandmother and great aunt, DH after both his grandfathers, our DS after his late great grandfathers (one name shared with DH) and DD after her grandmothers. It’s a lovely tradition and by explaining the derivation of our/their names keeps family history alive.

I don't have a middle name. My daughters do. I always felt like I was missing out!

Its even more frustrating for my brother as he has a common first name and surname (so Tom Smith sort of name). It does cause identification troubke.

I loved choosing two middle names for my daughter ☺️ I had other names that I had liked, and had considered for her first name, so I gave her 2 of those. I found it fun to choose, and I adore her full name. Of course it’s not necessary, and people absolutely don’t have to give middle names, but I say have fun with it, why not.

I'm glad we have them. Possibly now not such a big deal, but in my childhood, most people didn't seem to use their given names and used middle names.
E.g. Grandfather Henry Charles Smith (son of Henry Charles Smith & grandson of Smith Henry Charles) went by Charles. Aunt named Eleanor Mary Ellen, after her mother, grandmother AND gt-Grandmother was always known as Mary.
Older cousin Ted was christened Melvin Edward.

All that says, I never use my middle name. In everyday life I use a nickname that's a variant of my given name.

It’s a nice way of honouring other family members who have died. And also honouring family names and heritage. Mum gave my oldest brother a middle name, as a nod to her Welsh heritage/father. He, my other brother and I have done the same, with our sons. My daughter has my nana’s nickname as her middle name.

I love mine, my parents chose both my names well, and I do use mine. My DH comes from a family where they haven't added middle names for a few generations - and I really like that.

I like middle names but be wary of acronyms. I've just realised my son's initials are "JFC" - which wasn't widely used when he was born (pre internet) but now often seen on social media.

With my kids, the middle names I gave them were names I liked a lot, but didn’t want to use as first names. My older daughter’s middle name is what used to be my second-choice first name until it got more popular than I wanted. My younger daughter’s middle name is gorgeous, but most people would misspell it and pronounce it incorrectly.

You don’t need to give your child a middle name if you don’t want to, but it does give them more options, especially if they end up in careers in which they have a public profile. Charlotte Flora Jones has more name options than Charlotte Jones - the full name, C. F. Jones, C. Flora Jones. Charlotte F. Jones.

They're not necessary but they're just a little special thing, aren't they. ExDH didn't have a middle name and gave himself one!