Is this a really terrible idea for a middle name??

[Shouldhavereadtheinstructions]

Since we had DS1 we always said that if DC2 was a girl then her middle name would be my grandma's name. She is a truly amazing woman and we would both love to do this in her honour. But of course.... We are now expecting a boy!

We have thought of alternatives and even went so far as asking my grandma if she had any favourite boys names she would choose e.g. that my grandad hadn't liked 😂but I just keep coming back to really wanting her actual name to live on. DS2 is likely to be her last great grandchild (and obviously I can't tell anyone else what to name their kid!).

Would it be truly terrible to give DS her name as a middle name anyway? It's not a super 'girly' name as she goes by a nickname. E.g. think El rather than Eleanor or Kat rather than Katherine. On the one hand I think it's be wonderful to be named after such an amazing person and for his middle name to have a story. And it's very easy not to share your middle name widely if he is anxious in certain contexts. But is he just going to get awfully teased? Does that even matter as kids will always find something to tease about??

What do you think? Does anyone have any similar experiences?

Bob Wilson’s middle name is/was Primrose. Didn’t hold him back.

(I’ll now go and check if he’s still with us…)

Yep, happily.

We used dmil's maiden name as a part of our ds's name.

I wouldn't what's the name?

Use her maiden name as his middle name.

Is there a male version of her name you can use?

No.

I'm using my dads name for middle name for our DD, just changing spelling. Apparently it is actually a girls name too, you just never hear it!

Anyway agree with everyone - we have to hear it! Although I'm inclined to say go for it anyway. Maybe shortened if possible?

I know a boy who has his grandmother’s name as his middle name. It’s definitely a name that you would associate with a girl, but is also a noun (similar to Daisy or Willow). He’s 12 and uses his full name wherever possible - writes it on the front of exercise books, forms, etc.
He’s a lovely, funny sporty boy and it doesn’t bother him at all.

Your two examples El and Kat work but something like Mandy no.
Hard to say without the name!

Come on, tell us the name 😊

Why don't you give him her maiden name as a middle name? She will be pleased that her family name is living on for another generation.

Have you thought about using her surname or maiden name? Lots of kids have names like Jackson as a first/middle name and a lot of surnames work

I agree with the suggestion to use her maiden surname.

Without knowing the name it’s not really possibly to say, but I will say I don’t think Kat or El would work as middle names for a boy so if it’s similar then probably not. Is there a male version of the name? El could be Elvis, Kat could be Kit for example.

Why would you start a thread like this and not give the name 🙄

Name?

I is a tradition in my husbands family that first born males' first born have the same (rare) middle name. As there have only been boys for the last 130 years this has been fine, until my husband's first born (male) had his and it was a she! He still gave her the name.
I think it's easier to give a girl a boys name than the other way around. But echo other posts - we need to know the name!

My nephew has my sisters name as his middle name, Johnny Cash had something to say about it!

I think ‘a boy who had the middle name Sue’ would have had significantly less impact to be honest.

Honestly I’m the first to say give your child a sensible name, it’s not you who lives with it etc, but as a middle name? Who even knows their colleagues/friends’ middle names? You don’t need to use or share them. So James El Thompson will realistically just be Jamie Thompson. I would use it.

No idea as I don't know the name.

You can't ask is this name ok and not actually tell anyone the name.

Doesn't seem to have hindered Mandy Patinikin...

But yes it depends on the name.

Could always change your name by deed poll? (Or however it's done!)