Two middle names- nice or naff??

[Heh1991]

I have a short one syllable surname and quite like shorter one syllable names which seem super short and abrupt. My preference would definitely be for one middle name...is two a bit naff??

Thoughts please!!! And some combination ideas- am at a loss!!!

No, I don’t think it’s naff. In fact, I think of it as quite “posh” to have two middle names. But I decided against this for my DD as her first name and surname each have more than one syllable. I gave her a single one-syllable middle name as anything else I came up with sounded clunky, or like one name too many.

I think one-syllable surnames tend to sound good with a vast choice of first names. What sort of combinations are you looking for?

It’s refreshing to hear that! I heard someone say they thought it was naff once and it’s always stuck!

My surname is quite similar to Brown- just very simple and dull.

I like names like;

Alice Sienna Rose
Ella Harriet Grace

Edward Oliver James
Arthur William George

I like tradition but not super common names and having written them down seem to like the flow of names with syllables 2-3-1 and then 1 syllable surname.

I also love just one name but don’t know if that makes the name quite dull?

Alice Sienna
Arthur William etc

DD1 had 2 middle names, 2 syllable first name.
DD2 has 1 middle name but a 4 syllable first name.
Completely depends, but how often do you actually use full names?

1 syllable surname.

Brown is my eldest sons surname.
Syllable’s he has:-

One, two, one, one

I've got two middle names. My kids only have one and I regret not giving two now.

You are massively overthinking this. Just give her the names you like and don't worry about it. Almost No one apart from the people you tell when she is born will know whether she has one, two, three or four names. It literally doesn't matter.

Personally I love short and simple names.

If her first and last name are both very popular I'd consider giving her a more unusual middle name (or two) so she ends up with a unique name.

I’ve got two middle names. I’m really not posh. Its a special club to belong to. And banks always try to catch you out with “what is your middle name?”, as a security question.

Plus, at school you can step forwards more than everyone else on that letter game as you have more.

Two is fine.

And no one will know anyway.

I'm a fan of two middle names - I regret only giving my daughter one.

My DD has two middle names. Mainly because it became apparent before she was born that biologically a second child wasn't going to be an option so I wanted to give her a name from each side of that family. A short surname helps but as long as you like it I wouldn't worry. Syllable wise DD has 4, 2, 2, 1. I do feel a bit sorry for her learning to spell it all!!

DH has a double barrelled surname. Rather than using it our 3 DC's second middle name is one of his surnames. So now they only have one surname. I'm not a fan of double barrelled names.

My son has 2 middles, because one is my surname (sounded stupid double-barrelled).

My sister's kids all have a second middle with some religious significance as she is a real born again type.

Single syllable names can sound very clunky. I have a 1 1 name and it's rubbish. Both my sisters got 3 1, and very unusual 3s at that. My 1 was very very common for my age. Always felt a bit short changed.

Mine all have 2 middle names.
DC 1 has 1:3:3:1
DC2 has 2 (or 1 is the diminutive she usually uses is used):3:3:1
DC3 has 3 (normally shortened to 1):3 :3:1

And I'd never really thought about syllables before - just whether they sounded right and that they by coincidence all have the same number of letters.

I have two. Go for it.

If the names mean something it's fine, if they're just random names you like that don't connect to anyone or heritage etc, it's naff (in my opinion!)

Agree you are worrying too much. My thought on reading ‘nice or naff?’ was ‘nothing’. Just do what you want.

My children have one name because I think it’s more practical.
Another family I know, the children have two as their M&D aren’t married and one is the mum’s surname.
My best friend’s family have two because their DM came from a wealthy family and apparently it’s what posh people do.

Utterly pointless. I over thought and gave dd1 two middle names as felt bad leaving mil out as my mothers name used. Regret decision. Mil doesn’t give two hoots and now dd has a great long name on forms. Neither name ever actually used. Don’t do it!

Also dd now 13 is not impressed either. We sometimes drop the second middle name.

In our family the boys have two middle names because they take the family name whereas the girls traditionally don’t so only have one middle name.

I met someone who had no middle names and his bank gave him an X.

I think all of the names you’ve suggested are good, although I personally wouldn’t put Sienna directly after Alice as the two ‘s’ sounds run into each other.

Like you, I’m a fan of varying the length of the names. DD’s syllables are 3, 1, 2. One of my friends has just had a baby and given him three middle names. All of his names, including his surname, have two syllables - 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. I think the full name flows a bit like a shopping list, but it’s nice they’ve managed to honour relatives on both sides of the family (plus one of my friend’s fictional heroes).

I suppose what I’m trying to say is that I don’t think two middle names are excessive at all, provided they’re not all long names. If you’ve found a combination of names that you love, then go for it!

Thanks so much for the advice everyone!

Honestly I don't think it's anything people have much of an opinion on. Hardly anyone uses their middle name anyway.

I have two. Do what you and your OH want.