Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Rose as a middle name?

41 replies

Pastie123 · 29/09/2022 01:11

My first daughter has a popular Victorian name along with a flower middle name which was that of her great grandmother.

For our second daughter we were thinking of Henrietta Rose- Rose being another family members name and also a flower.

However now I feel like every baby girl I meet has the middle name Rose - Niamh Rose, Millie Rose, Charlotte Rose etc etc!

Should I still go for it because of the meaning for us, or shall I try and think of something else meaningful?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
ChelseaRobertsofMalibu · 29/09/2022 01:14

It's beautiful. My late SIL was called Rose 🌹

Ravensclawdropout · 29/09/2022 01:55

Our eldest daughter is 22 today and her middle name is Rose. We chose it before her first name as both my husband and I loved it. We still love it and so does she. I think its a classic personally.

ChocolateSpreadOnToast · 29/09/2022 06:23

If it means something then use it but yes every other girl does have it as a middle name. Ava/Isla/Evie/Amelia/Lily Rose.

RedWingBoots · 29/09/2022 06:30

Go for it. Her first name is well-known but not that popular.

I would say the only reason not to use "Rose" it is if you have a very common last name e.g. Taylor, Jones, Wright, Smith, Davies, Evan, Clarke plus are giving her a popular first name. You aren't.

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 29/09/2022 06:48

I don't think having a common middle name is really a problem. Mine is Jane - like loads of 80s babies have (and if you didn't get Jane you got Louise or Michelle) - it's really not an issue

SallyWD · 29/09/2022 07:37

That's a beautiful name and meaningful to you. I'd use it.

SalviaOfficinalis · 29/09/2022 07:39

I love the name Rose, definitely don’t be put off by popularity, especially as it’s a family name.

Lilacsunflowers · 29/09/2022 07:44

I know 3 girls called Emily Rose so yes it seems a very popular middle name. Like Jane in our generation.

Laurac5295 · 29/09/2022 07:44

I have had the same thought process as I have a few names I like and rose seems to suit best but like you said it's so popular. I think it's classic name so will keep being used for centuries and a beautiful name which means obviously it's going to be popular. Go for it if you like it!

TheBirdintheCave · 29/09/2022 08:09

It is popular but also a classic. My middle name is Rose (after my Nanna, her mother and two other Rose-Anne's before her) and if I have a daughter it will be her middle name too :)

TheUntiedShoelace · 29/09/2022 08:17

If it was good enough for Princess Margaret...

It's interesting how middle names have a similar trajectory to popular first names, but in a sort of shadow - the plainer sponge under the fancy icing. I'm a 70s baby, and back then it was Claire, Louise, Jane or Anne.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 29/09/2022 08:23

Change it. I did, I couldn't stand the idea of my little girl having the same middle name as every other girl born around the same time. Ugh.

KirstenBlest · 29/09/2022 08:26

The fact that it's a family name will be lost because of all the other Something Rose names.
I'd use a different name, Rosalind or something.

MothsAndWaspsAreUsefulPollinators · 29/09/2022 08:26

Yes Rose is very popular at the moment but you like it and it goes very well with Henrietta (also a lovely name, and not so commonly used at the moment). So, great!

MothsAndWaspsAreUsefulPollinators · 29/09/2022 08:28

The fact that it's a family name will be lost No it won't, because they will know who she was named after and tell her. We've got some 'family names' but no-one from the general public notices (and why should they? it's not a "look at me" competition) as they are not unusual enough for anyone to ever ask/comment.

KirstenBlest · 29/09/2022 08:33

@MothsAndWaspsAreUsefulPollinators , yes it will. Many of my age group had Jane or Ann(e) as a middle name. Many of them will have had a grandmother called Jane or Ann(e) but unless I knew the family, that would be lost on me.
They seem to be the filler middle names of their time.
Most of DCs' friends were Something Louise. It seems so unimaginative.

Chicheguevara · 29/09/2022 08:33

Rose is a wonderful name. I might be biased though. It is enjoying a bit of a renaissance at the moment, but don’t let that put you off.

WandaWomblesaurus · 29/09/2022 08:41

Rose is always timeless and beautiful. Every Rose I know is perfect.

Luredbyapomegranate · 29/09/2022 23:45

It’s really dull. Sorry OP. Rosemary or something? Rosanna, Rosamund..

APurpleSquirrel · 29/09/2022 23:50

BugsyDrakeTableScape · 29/09/2022 06:48

I don't think having a common middle name is really a problem. Mine is Jane - like loads of 80s babies have (and if you didn't get Jane you got Louise or Michelle) - it's really not an issue

Yep - I have Louise as a middle name (80s child).
My DD has Rosemary as one of her middle names as it was my mums middle name. My niece has Rose as her middle name.
Go for it - very people know or care about middle names outside of the immediate family.

Sparklythings1 · 29/09/2022 23:59

I have to say between Rose, Belle and Lily (all pretty names), there’s hardly any babies without it whacked on the end these days. I personally would go for anything else just to not be the exact same

DramaAlpaca · 30/09/2022 00:02

Rose is beautiful and classic, that's why it's popular. It's going to be a middle name in your case OP, so it doesn't matter. Henrietta Rose is really lovely.

Nat6999 · 30/09/2022 00:05

My daughter that I sadly lost was named Rosie.

DaisyChristina · 30/09/2022 00:26

I think Henrietta Rose is a beautiful name.

Mamai90 · 30/09/2022 01:10

KirstenBlest · 29/09/2022 08:33

@MothsAndWaspsAreUsefulPollinators , yes it will. Many of my age group had Jane or Ann(e) as a middle name. Many of them will have had a grandmother called Jane or Ann(e) but unless I knew the family, that would be lost on me.
They seem to be the filler middle names of their time.
Most of DCs' friends were Something Louise. It seems so unimaginative.

Do you go round asking everyone their middle names?

I only know those of my best friends and who they are called after etc. Also if called after a family member they that name has a special meaning to you. So for instance I was born in the 80s and my middle name is Jane but it's after my aunt and she was called after her aunt. So it's not 'unimaginative' to me. Few people know it and I couldn't give a fuck about anyone's opinion on it regardless.

If it has meaning go for it OP.