"Michael Douglas" as middle names

[MimiDaisy11]

So my partner and I have thankfully agreed on the first name if it's a boy but have to decide on the middle name/names. He wants to go for "Michael Douglas" after some relatives (Douglas Michael doesn't flow as well). I can't help think of the actor but he says it won't be an issue for someone born now. What do you think? I get that middle names aren't that important although obviously, I want to put some thought into it/them.

Douglas Michael flows perfectly well. It's just the other way round it is a very familiar name which is why if rolls off the tongue

I know you say they're after family members but please don't call your child Micheal or Douglas! Both are really dated and believe me the child will get judged for those names in school.

Douglas Michael flows better IMO and doesn’t have the very obvious connotations.

@RainbowBriteUk

I know you say they're after family members but please don't call your child Micheal or Douglas! Both are really dated and believe me the child will get judged for those names in school.

They are not. They are pretty classic anyway, Douglas definitely coming back into fashion and you couldn’t put a sheet of paper between Michael, Daniel and Samuel etc. It’s hardly calling your kid Denis or Trevor.

I’d imagine the names work fine the other way round OP but no one of your son’s generation will get the reference.

Ew, no...

@RainbowBriteUk

I know you say they're after family members but please don't call your child Micheal or Douglas! Both are really dated and believe me the child will get judged for those names in school.

I just looked up the most common middle names in the UK for 2020 and Michael is in the top 10 apparently (www.goodto.com/family/most-popular-middle-names-for-girls-and-boys-7262).

Lots of people choose middle names after relatives so they're going to be more common first names from older generations. I remember this from when I was at school and don't remember anyone being bullied for such things, especially with such common names.

For women names like Louise, Victoria, and Mary are in the top 10 for middle names and they might be seen as dated for first names now.

@applespearslemons

Douglas Michael flows perfectly well. It's just the other way round it is a very familiar name which is why if rolls off the tongue

You are likely right. I guess it is just because of the actor that I seem to have in my head that it flows better that way.

They are both perfectly acceptable names, underused classics. They are perfectly fine middle names, and nobody is going to judge a child for them. I'd go for Douglas Michael, it flows fine and avoids the link to the actor.

I think both names are absolutely fine but agree with others that Douglas Michael would be the better order or it will sound (certainly to me at least) like he’s been named after the actor.

Douglas Michael flows fine imo, but if you wanted it the other way around I really don't think it'd be an issue.

I agonised over my kid's middle names and rejected one option because it sounded too princessy. I wish I'd used it now as it was my favourite and it really wouldn't have been an issue at all! Was way overthinking it.

Douglas Michael would be better.

Or if it's not your last DC pick Douglas or Michael and save the other in case you have another boy. We used both of our boy middle names for DS2 and now we have no clue for DS3 and it seems a bit unfair not to name him after anyone, but there isn't anyone left we want to honour!

@RainbowBriteUk

I know you say they're after family members but please don't call your child Micheal or Douglas! Both are really dated and believe me the child will get judged for those names in school.

Both Douglas and Michael are back in!

@BertieBotts

Douglas Michael would be better.

Or if it's not your last DC pick Douglas or Michael and save the other in case you have another boy. We used both of our boy middle names for DS2 and now we have no clue for DS3 and it seems a bit unfair not to name him after anyone, but there isn't anyone left we want to honour!

It's our first child and there could likely be a second child after. So what middle names to choose for a child of the same sex would be a dilemma but if it's one of each sex then we've left out a name. It's a difficult call to make.

I actually prefer Douglas Michael and as they're middle names, very few people will hear them to make the connection with the actor (not that he's a particularly bad association as far as I'm aware?). Just use both. If you have another boy, you can think about names then.

@RainbowBriteUk

I know you say they're after family members but please don't call your child Micheal or Douglas! Both are really dated and believe me the child will get judged for those names in school.

Of course a child is not going to be judged at school for being named Michael or Douglas. Unless it's parents like you or unprofessional teachers doing the judging. Their classmates aren't going to care.

I know kids of various ages named Michael and Douglas and there is no issue.

But, to answer OPs question, middle names in the order Michael Douglas is absolutely fine. I'm sure Michael Douglas the actor would be horrified to think his name might influence your decision on the name you use for your child

Michael is not dated. I know lots of little Michaels.

And Michael is a great name. Michael Douglas as middle names works well.

You could use Michaela for a girl ?

Personally I think that Douglas Michael flows well but if you're having a second then it will be sad if there's no special name for the younger child.

A girl next time could be Michaela

Whether you use Michael Douglas or Douglas Michael - I think it's fine either way. Because it will be "Firstname Michael Douglas Surname", only a few people would make the actor reference (as everyone focuses on the First name and Surname).

Btw I love the name Michael - to me it's a pleasant sounding classic which rarely leaves the Top 100 in English speaking countries around the world and doesn't feel dated imo (it's not quite James or Thomas territory but pretty close!). And I think Douglas only left the Scots Top 100 in the mid 1990's after a long run, so it's not especially out of date in it's native country either.

Thanks for the replies. I am leaning now towards switching the order.

I also wouldn't want to feminise these names if we have a girl this time or next as we have female relatives we will name the girl/s after.