Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How far can you go with middle names?

29 replies

BananaHammocks · 18/02/2013 22:34

When people ask for opinions on names that others consider too 'out there' I've noticed people often suggest using it as a middle name, so was wondering what names would you consider or have used as middles names that you wouldn't use as a first name? Do middle names not count in the 'high court judge test'? Just asking because I quite like Bluebell as a middle name, but will probably wimp out and go with a family name!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

doublecakeplease · 18/02/2013 22:41

I have a very unusual middle name. Possibly made up by my Mum but she swears that a friend of friend knew someone with the name... Got teased a little at school but nothing major. Always had to explain pronunciation to new teachers as middle names appear on the register.

WhispersOfWickedness · 18/02/2013 22:48

Both mine have middle names that I wouldn't have considered as first names, not because they are 'out there', but because they are old fashioned as they honour older people in our families I just don't think middle names crop up in conversation that often nowadays, most of my close friends would probably struggle to remember mine!

Queenie68 · 18/02/2013 22:55

Bluebell is our chosen middle name for DC5 if we get a girl....

Not sure if I'd be brave enough to give it as a first name :)

Original poster

BananaHammocks · 18/02/2013 22:57

Queenie68 - Yay another Bluebell fan!

OP posts:

ISpyPlumPie · 18/02/2013 23:10

Both of mine have middle names that are actually more common (as in used frequently) than their first names. Not deliberate, just worked out that way - DS1's is a family name, and DS2's is a name we just happened to like that goes well with his first name.

Having said that, I think you can be a bit more adventerous with middle names given that they aren't used that often so not as many issues for eg always having to spell out/explain pronunciation of an unusual name. I wouldn't go too far though unless you want sniggering on their wedding day .

(excuse appalling typing - one handed due to feeding).

MNHQ

OliviaMumsnet · 18/02/2013 23:12

YY I have 2 DSes with "in case they wanna be rock stars" middle names

anonymosity · 19/02/2013 00:48

Can I ask those of you liking Bluebell, if its anything to do with Geri Halliwell's chosen name for her daughter? Were you spice girl fans?

larlemucker · 19/02/2013 03:46

I have two middle names, one is my mums maiden name as there are no boys to carry it on. It's a middle name and not double barreled (sp?) as she didnt want me to lose it if/when i got married. My Ds now also has it as one of his middle names.

noisytoys · 19/02/2013 04:00

DDs have middle names that are cartoon characters

DD1 is Chihiro (spirited away)

DD2 is Ariel (The Little Mermaid)

Chihiro was going to be DD1's first name but not many people could pronounce it

ElephantsAndMiasmas · 19/02/2013 09:55

I think you can be more adventurous, but do remember it is still a legitimate part of their real name which will pop up at all sorts of unexpected times (exam certificates, registering for courses, anything where you have to show proof of ID etc). So try to avoid something that will really embarrass them - Eleanor Cutesie-Lulu-Miffiepie Smith won't thank you.

Rhubarbgarden · 19/02/2013 14:08

Bluebell is lovely. If DS had been a dd he would probably have had Marigold as a middle name. As it is, he's saddled with a long unwieldy family name from DH's side. I put my foot down on it being his first name, but I do think anything goes for middle names.

Original poster

BananaHammocks · 19/02/2013 21:44

-anonymosity- no the Geri Halliwell puts me off! More to do with growing up near the Bluebell Railway in Sussex!

OP posts:

Queenie68 · 19/02/2013 21:54

anonymosity.... No definitely not a spice girl fan!! However with a baby due at springtime I love the connection of bluebells & it's a little more unusual than the other more popular flower names :)

deleted203 · 19/02/2013 21:56

I think you can be as adventurous as you like, probably!

Everyone I know hates their middle name . It's traditional!

AmandaCooper · 19/02/2013 22:07

Sowornout we've chosen my Dad's middle name as DS's first name and dad says he hates it. It's not at all out there though, it's almost boringly sensible!

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/02/2013 22:11

DS' middle name is Godric. :)

deleted203 · 19/02/2013 22:11

lol...you can't win Amanda.

We gave eldest DD the middle name of 'Constance' which is after her granny - and I think is rather charmingly old fashioned (might have re-thought it if granny had been Edna or Gladys).

DD1 loathes it with a passion and pretends she doesn't have a middle name!

deleted203 · 19/02/2013 22:13

Godric - after Godric's Hollow? (Harry Potter fan).

Ron Weasley's middle name is 'Bilious'...which I'm strangely attracted to!

SchroSawMargeryDaw · 19/02/2013 22:15

Partly... :o

WhispersOfWickedness · 19/02/2013 22:15

We might have that trouble with DD's, she has Winifred as her middle name. She is only 18 mo at the moment though, so currently untroubled by it

flixy102 · 19/02/2013 22:18

Sowornout that made me laugh as my middle name is also Constance, named after some great aunt of my mums.

At school I also hated it with a passion and used to tell people that the C stood for Catherine!

I don't mind it now but it's definitely not getting passed on to any future DDs!

FannyBazaar · 19/02/2013 22:24

My DS has a middle name that's in the top 100 names list, he has an uncommon first name so a conventional middle name. Actually my middle name is a far more common name than my first name too.

Shodan · 19/02/2013 22:24

I have two middle names which I dislike so much, even my oldest friend didn't know what they were until I said my vows at my first wedding!

Ds1 has one that has links to his father's heritage and ds2 has one that I really wanted to give him as his first name but DH wasn't keen for some reason (which neither of us can remember now).

It doesn't matter what middle name you give her- as sowornout says, it's traditional to hate them! Go as adventurous as you fancy...

Startail · 19/02/2013 22:42

Yes middle names do seem to be hated, DH, DSIL and me are all after our parents. So DSIL and me get lumbered with the same dull middle name, although DSIL has a unusual first name.

However, it's nothing like as bad as DH's. Unfortunately his DFather was 56 when he was born, so his middle name was really a grandparent name and this was a very long time before old man chick. It isn't Horace, but that sort of idea.

The worst of all is my DMum, who's middle name is Gladys.
This is bad, but worst still my DGreatAunt, after whom she was named, loathed it too. My birthday cards were always signed Auntie G. In 18 years she never put her full name.

My DMum also signs official things with a swirly G linking her first and last names, but never admits to what it stands for.

deleted203 · 20/02/2013 01:03

On the other hand my mother (aged 73) is still moaning about the fact that she doesn't have a middle name! She feels cheated by this. We've told her she has to use 'H' like Harry H Corbett who, when asked, said it stood for 'Hanything!'...

Flip

1 2

Swipe left for the next trending thread