How Many Middle Names?

[AubernFable]

I personally love long ‘frilly’ names, two or more middle names, but I know some people that don’t have a middle name at all or think more than one is over the top.

What are your thoughts on name length? Do you think having double barrelled first or last names makes a difference?

i think you should just have one first one middle and one last name but that’s just my opinion or it gets too complicated

DD has two middle names, one is a family name and one is a name which has sentimental value for me and DH. But we both accept that if she only wants to use one or none as an adult, that's okay.

I like two middle names, but no more.

Definitely one for me.

2 is too many (imo), 3 or 4 is just ridiculous unless you're a royal.

I have two. The second one sometimes gets left of official documents, which is a pain. I think two is unnecessary, but if you do, make syre you put the one that matters most first.

My kids all have 2 middle names, a family name from each side of the family

Two middle names sets you up for a lifetime of problems filling out paperwork. Guess how I know?

Name Middle name Surname in our family.

One of the children has two middle names as dc chose to add one.

I have two middle names, one of which is a family name.

The only problem I ever encounter is sometimes there's not enough boxes on forms, but it's a pretty minor problem in the grand scheme of things.

On balance I quite like having two.

We didn’t give son a middle name as we thought he could choose his own when he got older-

Turns out you can’t, but his surname is quite unusual so in a way it’s not a bad thing!

We all have two in my family, so gave my kids two. Each name has a meaning to us, and they have back up names if they need.

I've not had 'a lifetime of problems filling out paperwork' as a PP said, so I'm hoping they won't either! ✍. Can't actually think of time its caused me issues 🤔

However, my kids are being raised Catholic so will get a confirmation name too. They will end up with three middle names which is a bit of a mouthful.

I'd say to go for two if you'd like two. People do what they think is right so those that gave none support that decision, those who gave one think they are right, and I think I am 😎. We all are. Or none of us are!

I think it depends how long the middle names are. Mine don't usually fit on forms. My first and middle names total ten syllables.

I think it depends on the length of the names.

Lucy Ann Sarah Jones - fine.
Elizabeth Isabella Luciana Jackson-Williams - she will spend half her exam time just filling in the form.

My total name is 24 letters from 3 names. 24 is just about ok but I wouldn’t want any longer. Occasionally I am filling out a form in my best (borderline illegible!) block caps and I do start thinking “seriously! I am still writing!”

Both my DC have two middle names, as do I. It meant we could fit in the family name DH had always wanted to include as well as something we chose.
DC1's name is 27 characters in total plus three spaces and fits in on things like passport forms but only with a couple of spaces spare and so we bore that in mind when choosing DS' name. His is 28 characters and fits in forms.

I double barrelled my name after I got married but I dropped it after a few years, as in reality I used DH’s name as it’s the same as the kids, plus I felt like people thought I was being awkward or trying to be posh with the double barrel.

And my kids have two middle names, but none of them use them both, they only use the first one.

I have 2 middle names, overall my name is 28 letters which might seem a bit much but I love it and I'd definitely give my future children 2 middle names.

Me, DD (7), DD (due in July) are all/will be First, Middle, Surname.
DP god bless him is First-First Middle Surname but all four names can be used as first names 🙈 he hates it. Not to mention none of his family spell his middle name correctly (in my opinion) but also none of them spell it incorrectly consistently 😅 they all spell it differently and my DP pretends it doesn’t exist.

Plays havoc when typesetting lists e.g. graduation lists if the person has a gazillion names.

Everyone in my family/extended family has 2 middle names (partly because we are Catholic so eg all girls have Mary plus one other) and no one has ever had any issues filling in forms.

One of my bank cards only has one of my middle initials on it but otherwise I use either both or neither - I think it would be weird to choose just one of them. Both my DC have 2 middle names - one from each side of the family - and no issues at all.

But I’m a strong believer in choosing a first name that you love and then using the middles to honour family etc - I think if I’d seen middle as just another name I liked I’d have stopped at 1.

I have two middle names and one surname, kids have two middle names plus a double-barrelled (but no hyphen) surname.

It's not been a problem for passports, or forms so far. I LOVE having two middle names and the whole thing being quite long. The children have not reported any issues. I don't remember writing my middles out for exam papers - do they have to do that now?!

My parents have five of us and we don’t have any middle names. Have always appreciated it! Middle names are pretty irrelevant - just useful for distinguishing identity if your other names are common.
All you’re doing by adding multiple middle names is looking like an attention seeker and making form filling unnecessarily long.

Both 1 or 2 are perfectly commonplace - if you love lots of names or want to honour both sides of the family then it’s fine to go with 2 (even with a double- barrelled surname - just bear in mind that your kids may end up having to leave one middle name off/use middle initials for some forms).

I must admit I think 0 is for people with no imagination or family/friends they want to honour, where as 3 plus is for the eccentric/crazy/aristocracy imo 🤣

Both of my kids have short first names and then two more characterful middle
names and then a long surname.