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?

Haha I laughed at this because even now if my mum middle-names me, I know I’m toast.

I quite like middle names when they’re meaningful- mine is after my dad’s niece who died in the months before I was born - she was only in her twenties, it was a great loss - and I’ve always felt proud to carry her name on. Similarly my children have names after relatives that are meaningful and DHs is after his grandfather who died before he was born.

I always feel a bit sorry for people who don’t have middle names. Feels a bit low effort. Equally I never get it when people just chuck in an Anne or a John (unless it’s after someone) because that also seems a bit like their parents couldn’t be arsed. What, you don’t/didn’t have a single aunt/friend/Nana you like/d?

I love my middle name. It’s my paternal grandmother’s surname and it’s reet northern, not posh. Personally, I don’t like double barrelled names

I've known lots of people who don't have them. It's fine to not have a middle name. In many cases it's the 'compromise' part of the name, and it doesn't serve any real purpose.

None of our family have middle names - much easier filling out forms and well, just in general not having a redundant name i guess!

I use my middle name frequently. I have a very unique first name, never met another with my name, but a common middle name. I call it my Starbucks name. I use it for orders in-person, to save having to pronounce and spell my first name. Same if I meet people in clubs/bars/loud places.

Yes, if you get 'full first name-middle name-surname' then you know that you really are in trouble!

I used my middle name as I preferred it to my first name, as did my grandfather. My sibling was not given a middle name and it is a lifetime annoyance to him, I think he honestly felt our parents just couldn't be bothered to think of one for him. Just 2 letters looks a bit measly on forms and situations at work where your intials form part of your identification. Even worse if the 2 names are fairly common.

I don't think they're pointless. As PPs have pointed out, they're a good identifier in many situations. I love mine and always include it when giving my name, so everyone who knows me knows it.

I also love that it's a name going back for at least eight generations in my family, and that I'm the current bearer for this generation. I don't have a daughter but I am quietly hoping one of my sons will pass it on.

I might not love or use it so much if it were just a random name they picked for the sake of it.

I don't have a middle name and always wanted one. As a kid I used to invent middle names and accuse parents of being too mean to give me one :-). Just choose yours, husbands, grandparents' or siblings' name if you can't think of one, something nice. There are people who use a middle name rather than first for various reasons.

I think they are totally pointless. I have one but I only ever use it on official forms so pretty rarely.

DH doesn't have one

If you think there are pointless then don't give them to your children. I know a few people who don't have one. It doesn't really matter.

Some people like having a middle name or giving their children one. A few reasons I can of ...
Honouring relatives.
Including maiden surname if not wanting to double barrel.
Having lots of names on the shortlist and wanting to use them in some way, particularly if one parent wasn't willing to agree on it as a first name. (This happened to us, we had very different taste in names and both compromised on the first name, then chose a middle name each!)

I don't have one, neither does my sibling or either of my parents. My children have 2 middles names to make up for it!

There are no rules.... go wild.

Some may see them as pointless. Some see them as a way to honour and remember a much loved family member. Our 2 DGC have middle names that do this and I think it's rather lovely. If there no middle name you particularly like or want fine.Do without.

I don't have one and it's never bothered me .
I think they are useful if you have a family name you want to use but they are not necessary.

Mine reminds me of my grandmother. My mum asked her to choose my middle name. I like middle names, all my children have them.

They are used to distinguish between two people of the same name.

I like having a middle name. I don’t really use it but I like seeing it written down.

My children don't have middle names.

I instantly heard this when I read your post!! 🤣🤣

Completely agree!

I don't have a middle name and neither does my DD.

With a common surname, it’s very useful to have a middle name or two!

DH shares a first and last name, and date of birth, with someone wanted by interpol. He has been stopped so many times when travelling and grilled. His middle name has saved him from plenty a tricky situation. We also get loads of debt collection letters where companies are trying to track people down with his name, and he then has to ‘prove’ it’s not him. It’s frustrating and annoying.

The dc have two middle names each, both with family connections on each side, as they also have the super common surname. I’m hoping they won’t get the same level of hassle!

Not pointless, we like ours. And DS3 first name didn't exactly stick, middle name came handy

My family and DHs family never did them and DD doesn’t have one either.

I don't have a middle name either 😊 my dad filled out the forms wrong and I got 2 first names instead 😆

I think it's a chance to give your baby something meaningful that you don't necessarily want as the first name. My middle name is after a grandparent and my son's middle name is my dad's name too. I know a little girl with middle name 'hope' which the parents chose for a reason.

But yes I admit my bil and sil have just given thier children random names they liked and I do think that's a bit pointless.