Middle names - one or two?

[violetbean]

Our surname has 2 syllables and starts with an 'O'.

DS1 arriving soon and we like 'Daniel' as a first name.

DH has 2 middle names and wants DS1 to have 2. I'd prefer to stick with one middle name. I've said we could compromise if we found two short middle names, maybe 3 syllables between them?

Current thoughts for possible middle names are Richard, Edward, James, Andrew... any other suggestions?

Also, any thoughts on whether to go for 1 or 2 middle names?

Finally, any middle initial combinations to avoid with D as first initial and O as last?

Thanks all!

Daniel James Adam
Daniel Mark Richard
Daniel James Andrew
Daniel George Richard
Daniel Edward + your maiden name?

I suppose short names could include Guy, Hugh, Mark, Paul, or even Fox.

Maybe avoid initials like DEMO or DREG.

Two! Handy for cricket and gives more options should they grow up to dislike their given first name.

They can choose whether or not to use them all on paperwork etc.

Two :) I have two and love it, giving my DS two when he arrives in November :)

What do you mean 'handy for cricket' MrsCocoa?

I have 2 and quite like it. Ds has one, although its william so long ish. Dp has 2 middle names too. If theres a next dc they will more than likely have 2 middle names.

Two!
Henry, John, Peter, Edmund, Simon, George, Ian...the 70-80s staple middle name Lee.

Avoid DANO (unless you want that to be his nickname).

DS1 has one, as do DH and I.

DS2 has two, for complicated reasons. We are completely converted to two, and current bump has two middle names planned. We have even talked about adding one for DS1 when he is old enough to choose one for himself.

One rarely if ever uses one's middle name(s), so IMHO it sort of doesn't matter what they are. A first name is a label for the person forever, and needs serious consideration, but within reason middle names are for the wider family's benefit, and perhaps as a backup.

I wouldn't choose a filler middle name, though - we choose middle names that remember or honour someone.

Daniel is great. I think choosing two of your suggested middle names together would be great.

I have 1, DSis has 2 middle names. Doesn't make a blind bit of difference in the long run

Violet: just that historically quite a lot of cricketers have had three initials on the scorecard (an old, and probably class, based thing?).

See for instance:
learningisfunblog.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/the-royal-baby-and-cricketers-middle-names/

Two! My DS has three, actually! :)

Both my sister and I have 4 middle names, my little brother has 7!! DH has 2 and we gave our children 2 each, that is plenty I just prefer how it sounds but I suppose it depends on the names you choose and how well they 'flow' together.

I don't see the point of more than one middle name. It seems excessive and unnecessary to me.

I like two, they seem to flow better. Our family has always had two historically so just stuck with it

Me and hubby are thinking of having 2 but only because the first name we like only has one syllable and so does our surname. We want to lengthen it out a bit

Two. Our children only have one each due to a slightly unwieldy double-barrelled surname which flows better with only one middle name, but I have two and prefer it that way.

I don't see the point of middle names, maybe if there is some family or other meaningful reason then go with two. Otherwise just seems like a lot of writing to clutter up 'official' type forms with, and if just random names, (albeit that you like) then why bother?

Thanks all! Taking on board your points. Paul has come up as a possibility - maybe Daniel Paul Richard O?

I hate having two middle names! The second one never fits fully onto forms.

I'd space it out Daniel Richard Paul purely because of Paul Daniels

We're now considering Daniel Mark Nicholas O... too long or ok?

Definitely go for two - although beware of using up all the names you like in case you have a DS2 at any point...

I love having two middle names.

DH has one.

Ds1 has one, the other DC have two. (We gathered momentum with names we liked so added in extra ones!)

Ds1 doesn't seem to notice he only has one, compared to his brothers.

More the merrier imo, but don't use up all your favourite names if you think you might have more DCs.

Have two or three! Never mind about forms. It defines you as a person.