Initials - Am I overthinking??

[newmum86]

We have our heart set on the name Abigail for a girl, however we were planning on using a family members name as the middle name which begins with an 'S' and our surname also begins with an 'S'. So that would mean the babies initials would spell 'A.S.S'. My husband thinks I am overthinking this and no-one would notice, but I am not sure, it seems very childish but then again they will have to live with it through school years.

If it makes any difference we are unlikely to use the middle name except for official documents, day to day I don't plan on using middle name.

So my question is would this stop you using this name?

Not for a second. I'm continually completely baffled at the playground approach to initials here. When would someone EVER be designated by all of their initials, including a middle initial?

Use another middle name as well to break up the initials eg, ASXS or AXSS.

In every job I have ever had, people are referred to in the minutes of meetings, staff menus etc by their initials. As an adult, i sm referred to in writing by my initials about as much as by my full name.

I don't think you're over thinking and wouldn't go for an S middle name.

It's common practice in legal practice to be referred to/refer to yourself by your initials on letters/notes/the computer time recording system etc.

I worked with someone whose initials were PNS - very childish but I did always mentally add an 'e' and and 'i' in there!

There are sad people around like me, who do notice and feel a bit sorry for people with initials like that. My children and grandchildren have all been aware of their initials and used them quite a lot. A relative narrowly avoided using GBH for one child.

I would either add a name or change the name.
I say this because at my workplace initials are used a lot.

Where I work there are people with the same initials (first and last name) so their middle initial is used too. I don't think it's a great idea and would think about adding 2 middle names.

Thanks everyone! You have made my mind up, just need to decide if I would rather sacrifice or first choice name or the middle name.

I liked the idea of adding another name to break it up but OH is not keen at all so I think that's out.

3 weeks to go and cannot decide on anything haha!!

at school, my kids often initial their artwork etc (eg clay pots, initials on the bottom)

as an adult all the meeting minutes have our initials on.

BUT only first and last name, so she would never be ASS they would be AS which is fine.

Actually we have one person whose initials are BO and he prefers to use his middle name too so his initial read BDO as he doesn't like his initials. I think he is over thinking it.

If more than 2 people with same name, you can chose how you extend it, eg AbS

Yes, I'm an academic and minuted by my initials, but never by a middle initial. My middle name doesnt actually appear anywhere other than on my passport, so my workplace wouldn't be aware of it.

I'd avoid it if possible. I know a few people with the initials BJ and another whose surname is Mann and whose first name begins with C - C Mann. None of these are great! Err on the side of caution in case of playground bullying I say.

I would avoid it too. My dds and I play a game where we make up names with silly initials (e.g. Beatrice Ursula Manners etc). We all had our initials on our satchels at school, and although that doesn't happen now, initials are still noticed. My GP's initials are DR which makes me laugh.

My friends name was Iman and they called her A man and teased her about that all the time. If they found our your DD's initials were ASS, I do think they would tease her, sorry.

Have the family members name with the 'S' as a second middle name and add another before it. It'll break it up. You still get the family name in there but avoid any bullying.

I used to know someone who's initials were N.A.D.S

How would you feel about reversing the names but still using Abigail for everyday?

I would avoid it due to the initialling on work to bring home from school and meeting minutes.

How about double barrelling your surname with DH's?

I honestly can't think of a situation where your DC would need to use all three of her initials. I can accept that first and surname initials might occasionally be used (although it's certainly never happened to me in any context I'm aware of) but nobody will even know her middle name surely at school, work etc?! She can just use AS if she needs to use initials. The only place I've ever used my middle name is on my passport...

Anyone who has had children going through primary school knows that they play with names all the time. They spell them backwards, look for puns and anagrams- and would find ASS extremely amusing. Honestly.

“I’m baffled by the playground approach to initials here”

Unless you’re giving birth to adults then it probably is worth giving thought to how ‘childish’ behaving characters might react !

Anyway I do realise this thread is ancient I’d love to know if you went for ASS in the end?

When would someone EVER be designated by all of their initials, including a middle initial?

I am at work, actually. It's generally just first and last initial here (small company), but someone else has the same first and last initials as me, so I'm known by all three initials.

OP, I would add another middle name. Children often play around with their names - including asking each other's middle names, signing things with initials, practising fancy signatures etc. A.S.S initials will be noticed, unfortunately.

Argh, didn't notice this was a zombie thread, sorry.

Sorry my fault ! I was looking at threads about initials to look for whether the ones I avoided really were awful or not

Which is more important? A first name that you really like or the relatives name?

I would be inclined to have Abigail Sally Mary Surname or whatever.

ASS. Not a chance.