Middle Names for all Children?

[2020HelenJ]

If you give a middle name for one child, should you then give all children middle names?

I don't think so, not unless you want to. My first had one official middle name, second has two and third has three. It just happened that way.
With first I chose first name and DH gave middle name.
Second I chose first name DH chose first middle and I chose second middle.
Third I chose first name, we both chose second, I chose third and a dear friend chose fourth with our blessing.

I would say Yes. While I don't think it matters quite so much if some siblings have one middle name and some have two (as perhaps the children with two middle names were named after both sides of the family, or Mum and Dad each chose one); I do think it could somehow feel a bit like the parents couldn't be bothered to think of a middle name this time if the new baby didn't have any and their brother/sister did

There must be another name you quite like? Or how about the name of a friend or family member you'd like to honour? Favourite Writer, Actor, Artist? (if more along the lines of more subtle Nina or Ella for example than Beyonce or Madonna!)

Yes I think it's best. I have one middle name and my sibling has two. I still haven't quite forgiven our parents

I think you should.

Yes same number of names. My mum always felt put out that she was the only one without a middle name.

I think you should really.

Yes- they’ll read something into it, if not

I think so. I don’t have a middle name and am not really fussed about DD’s, but we did give her one - I don’t dislike her middle name, I just don’t care about them as a thing. I’m now pregnant with DC 2 and again, I don’t care about a middle name but as we gave DD one, we’ll give the baby one as well.

Yes definitely. If not the ones without might think that you couldn’t be bothered.

None of mine have middle names. I didn't give the first child a middle name, so treated the others equally.

DH wasn't given a middle name, neither was I when we were born. No biggie🤷

Yes

I don't have a middle name (but both my parents do!) Much as I love my parents I have always felt aggrieved about this, it obviously isn't in the forefront of my mind on a daily basis but I do feel somewhat short changed

@HarrisMcCoo

None of mine have middle names. I didn't give the first child a middle name, so treated the others equally.

DH wasn't given a middle name, neither was I when we were born. No biggie🤷

The question is should we treat all the children the same regarding middle names so I don't understand the 🤷

Names don't cost anything, so really it seems sensible to avoid treating children differently and them potentially reading favouritism into it in the future.

Our dc1 and 2 have middle names and there wasn't one we especially wanted for dc3, but we chose one (a grandparents middle name) for dc3 just to be fair, and ironically he's the child out of the three most attached to his middle name, and the only one who writes all three names (first, middle and family name) on everything. He definitely would have questioned not having a middle name when his siblings do.

Yes. I don’t have a middle name but my sibling does. I always felt rather shortchanged and in primary school used to pretend my middle name was Elizabeth. I even considered gifting myself a middle name (not Elizabeth) for my 50th birthday but cba changing all my official paperwork stuff.

Only one of my two DC has a middle name, I am not a fan of middle names but we lost a family member when I was pregnant so my dd was given that name. That said, my DH does not have a middle name and neither does my ds he understands why and is really not bothered. He is still treated exactly the same as his sister. Did not ever think it would indicate anything else.

My brother wasn’t given a middle name, while the other 2 of us were. He always had a real chip on his shoulder about it.

Fwiw my middle name does not mean anything, I don't even think about it. I understand if there is a reason behind a name otherwise it's just another name. I don't think it indicates unfairness and my ds agrees.

My younger DD has two more letters in her name total than her sister. This has been described as unfair (elder DD has 5-4-7 letters, younger DD has 6-5-7, so neither name is excessively long!)

Takedogshithome it was just to show its not a big deal either way. I have not felt aggrieved with no middle name growing up, neither has DH even though his siblings both got a middle name, as did my sibling.....less paperwork to do without a middle name.

Thanks everyone, really helpful to get your views

Yes definitely you should.

Yes, I think it's important. My DC both have 2 middle names.
DH is from a family of 5 siblings. The first 4 all have at least one middle name whereas the youngest hasn't got any. He still gets teased about how the parents ran out of ideas! It's a bit mean.

I'd give them one. People like having middle names

I am 1 of 4 - I have 1 middle name, my brother has 2 and my sister's don't have any.

Someone brought it up once and we were puzzled that any one would think anything of it, we were all treated as equals which is what matters surely. Not some extra letters on a piece of paper 🤔🤷‍♀️

I don't particularly like having a middle name, it's boring and means nothing.Much easier to have 2 imo.