How many syllables are too many?

[diddlediddle]

Trying to decide between one or two middle names. The options (syllables in names - surname is two syllables) are:

3 4 2
3 2 4 2

I know lots of people will think two middle names is excessive. But is it though?? I love the second middle name option and I want to stick it in even though it makes the name long! Will it really matter??

Honestly I don’t think anyone goes through life worrying about the number of syllables in their combined names. It really doesn’t matter.

But it's a bit of a mouthful isn't it? But you think that doesn't matter?

For what it is worth I was briefly a 2 2 4 2 until my mother got bored writing all the names out, so ended up 2 4 2 which I am perfectly content with.

You're really overthinking this

Maybe I am 😅

I really wouldn't worry. Our kids have two middle names and the second one doesn't get used other than on official forms etc really. We just had so many names we liked and saw it as an opportunity to put something a bit more unusual in there, but never once considered it was too many syllables!

OH thinks 3242 is too many. I think more is more!

My DD is

1
3
3

No one ever asks though

Inc surname is

1
3
3
1

Tha amount of times they’ll say their name, or even write it, is so small it’s not worth the effort of worrying about it. Just go with the names you like best.

I’ve never done this before, it’s quite fun 😀

Ds1 - 341 = 8
Ds2 - 3131 = 8
Ds3 - 1221 = 6

Ds1 hasn’t even noticed he doesn’t have two middle names like the others 😂

Ds1- 1 2 1 1

Ds 2- 2 2 1 1

See none of these names are as long as 3242! I'm also thinking about the people saying they often drop their second middle name for forms. That seems a shame if I prefer the one that would go second

DS1 - 2 2 2

DS2 - 2 2 2

At least I’m consistent! I’ve never given it thought before and no one will know your child’s middle name.

I’m 3 1 1 !

I’ve only recently found out what my husbands middle name is! We’ve been together 10 years. I only know the middle name of about 1 of my closest friends from school. No one cares about middle names. Just do whatever you want it will have no impact

3 4 2 is something like Annabel Elizabeth Roberts
3242 is something like Annabel Louise Elizabeth Roberts

I think it depends on the names
Try the names out.
Bear in mind that the child will mainly be known as Firstname Surname or NN Surname.
Annabel Roberts
Anna Roberts.

Substitute the names with your selection, and consider any word that the initials form - in this case, A L E Roberts/ALER or A E Roberts/AER.

My daughter was originally going to be 2342 but it was way too much of a mouth full and people's response was "erm wow, that's long!". I changed my mind before we registered her and now she's 232. It's perfect!

@MissHenty how have you only just found out your husbands middle name?! Did you just never ask? Seems so bizarre to me!

Never asked, he’d never mentioned it either.
I think it was on our marriage certificate and that’s the first time I heard it (it’s William - maybe if it’d been something unusual he would have made a point of telling me? I dunno it just never came up and I don’t know my school friends middle names either. Just never been relevant)

I was 3 2 1 until I married. Then 3 2 2 which doesn't have such a good rhythm. Known by my middle name so 2 2 which is worse still. Shortened middle name so now 1 2 which balanced the rhythm.

But if you prefer the name that is going second, then why can't you change that to be the first middle name?

It just doesn't flow like that! 😩

My two have quite a few given syllables, but our surname has only one. They are (including surname): 341 and 3331. I don’t think anyone has ever commented!

My name is 3 2 3 3 and I’ve never thought it was too much!

You love the 4-syllable middle name better than the 2-syllable middle name? Perhaps drop the 2-syllable one then, if you are worried about length?