Socrates as a middle name??

[newmumnewmum]

Help! My husband is Greek and his father is called Socrates. It is greek tradition to name the first born son after the paternal grandfather. I have vetoed this and have compromised with it as a middle name, but still have huge reservations about using it 😑
Is it as bad as I think it is?

Before I read your post I would have said it was a bit wanky, but given the Greek heritage I think it's fine.

Love it. One of my favourite philosophers!

I love it! Alexander Socrates is a great name. I think it’s important to reflect his heritage from both sides.

I agree with the PP who said that they see little point in middle names unless there is a family tradition or something, given that they are never used. My own children have slightly odd middle names to honour an (also Greek!) grandparent, and my grandmother who is extremely dear to me and whose name will never ever make a comeback. I love both of their names!

I love it. He'd better be intelligent, though...

It's a fabulous middle name. I love it

Who wouldn't want to be named after one of the greatest Brazilian footballers of all time?

I blumming love it!

I think it's an amazing name, work with one and I am not Greek. Always thought his name was nice and never once thought of scrotal!!

Yes, the scrotal thing is a bit of a stretch. The main worry is that people will think OP's son teases sock rats.

Alexander is beautiful, international and timeless so definitely a better first name option.

I think Socrates is a great middle name to honour his family though. On the small chance other kids do find out and tease, teaching him to give a cool stare and “Actually that’s my Grandad’s name” should hopefully put them in their place. But really, who knows most people’s middle names?

I like it. Love it in fact.

Have ever seen Bill and Ted though 😂

Alexander Socrates is a fabulous name! Lucky boy!

Great choice for a middle name and a good compromise.

Alexander Socrates is brilliant. DD has her grandmother's weird name as a middle name and it's never been an issue. If anyone remarks that it's an unusual name, she just says that it was her grandmother's name, and there's never been any negative comment after that.

It is fabulous. Lucky boy!

In honour of their Dad's family My DSs have Polish middle names -- the kind of names that would give you a maximum score in Scrabble if proper nouns were allowed.
It has never been an issue because middle names are pretty much redundant.

It's a middle name, it's fine! My first boyfriend's middle name was Huguenot 😂

Middle names can be omitted if the bearer chooses. It's the right place to put a name that's a bit more outre.

I think it's fab, I love unusual middle names and this one is legit because of the family connection so he can easily explain it to people if needed.

It's an excellent name!

I love it as a name.

Well it’s quite bold but I don’t know anyone’s middle names unless I’m related to them, they’re not used and in that respect they’re a bit pointless.
So if it’s just for the purpose of appeasing the family, go ahead and use it, will be nice for him growing up to have that link but essentially the strongest link is his genetics which will be part Greek anyway.

it’s fine & meaningful for use the grandfather’s name. IMO it’s what middle names should be.

my mum dislikes her middle name (Abel) and has essentially dropped it. It’s easy to get away from middle names you don’t like.