When did Rose become THE middle name?

[Sophcas7]

Rose itself is obviously a very old classic flower name which had its peak in the Victorian era but its use has a middle name seems to have only became ubiquitous in the last 25 years or so.

I was born in the 70s and in my generation most of our middle names were something along the lines of Ann, Elizabeth, Jane, Lynn. The rose middle name trend seems relatively newer to me.

I worked as a midwife in the early 2000s from 2001-2005 and I can’t even tell you how many parents chose “Emily Rose” and other popular names with Rose.

I’m not actually sure if it’s chosen as much any more because mae and grace seem to be getting a lot more common too and I may be wrong but I feel like the rose middle name trend was never popular before the 90s.

There will be a few exceptions obviously, I’m sure there were some considering rose is an old name but possibly just not as many as there have been the past 2 decades.

My surname is rose. When asked my name I give “bakingmad rose” and people then always ask for my surname. Every time! 🤣

My middle name is Rose after my Dad’s auntie who would have been born in the 1920’s. I was given the name in 1988, my niece in 2016 and my daughter in 2023. Two of my closest friends also gave the middle name Rose to their daughters in 2023 so I’d say it’s more popular now than ever.

My nan was Rose Evelyn and she was born in 1914. My DD was always going to have Rose as her middle name. She was born in 2013 and is Sofia Rose. My second cousin who was born around the mid 80’s (cousin’s daughter) also had Rose after our Nan.

I think one syllable middle names are always popular and there’s only so many to choose from

Names go through the cycle of being trendy then old fashioned then really old fashioned then trendy again.

People rarely use names from their parents or their own generation but do from their grandparents or great grandparents generation.

I don’t think names like “Jane” or “Claire” are ready to come back around again yet. I think Anne will become popular again in the next decade or so. Soon “Grace” and “May” will become uncool.

I am surprised names like “Faye” and “Wren” aren’t more popular as they seem underused, are inoffensive one syllable names and don’t currently feel very dated to me.

I think “Hope” and “Faith” are lovely names but feel a bit earnest or religious in a way that isn’t as in-fashion right now but I see those coming back soon too.

This is interesting as there is another thread running where the op is wanting to use Wren and it just doesn't work as a middle name. It sounds ornithological, like the Spotted Wren, or Greater Wren or Short Toed Wren. It works as a first name ok.

Interesting. I've just tried to pair it with a load of first names and perhaps you're right. It doesn't quite roll off the tongue. I suppose that answers my question on why it isn't used more as a middle name.

I did the same thing and it took me a while to figure out what I was stubbing my toe on, as I don't mind it as a first name and it fits the short syllable brief for a middle name.

My mum & her sisters all had middle names beginning with Rose: Rosalee, Rose, & Rosemary.
when my DD & my DN were born we did the same - adds middle name is Rosemary & DNs is Rose - so for us it’s about that family connection. All our DCs middle names relate to family members.

I love the name Emily Rose. I did have kids 2004-7! Rose has a lovely association of the flower.

Both my grandmas were named variations from Rose, I think virtually all the granddaughters are named after them as a first or second name.

Actually got that wrong, it’s the great granddaughter’s who are all Rose/Rosa etc. So grandchildren remembering their grandparents.

Wren kitchens is the first thing that springs to mind for me.

The first time I met a little girl I met called Wren I heard her name before I saw it written and I thought it was Ren as in Ren and Stimpy - so I didn't like it much at all!

Then it dawned on me that it was the bird and I thought it was quite sweet. Not a name I'd pick personally, but it would be boring if we all had exactly the same names.

Another virtue name I quite like is Clemency. I think its pretty with a nice meaning.

I really don't like Honour. It sounds somehow American - and also makes me think On Her.

Almost my DD’s name!

My daughter’s middle names are Victoria, Rose she is 25 this high. Both family names

My middle name is Rosemary, which I like very much and was born at the end of 1964. Rosemary - and Rose is often used as a shortened form of Rosemary - was a fairly popular first and middle name when I was at school.

Everyone in the 80s is Louise Marie or Ann

Everyone now is May Mae Lily

DD1 was born in 2005, I didn't know many other people with babies and I thought I was being original. It was because of Rose Tyler and the black baccara roses in my wedding theme.

One of my DGD's middle names is Rose, and I think it’s absolutely beautiful. She's nearly 2. But there’s something timeless and elegant about it which is why I think it spans so many generations as a popular name. Personally I couldn't care less how many other people are called it, it’s a popular name for a reason!

My Grannie was born in 1898, her name was Anna May Rose.

I think it's probably a combination of (a) one-syllable names being popular as middle names because of euphony + (b) the vintage, floral connotations of Rose + (c) the Titanic effect in the late 1990s.

Is middle name data collected and published by the ONS like first name data? I'd wonder if there was a noticeable uptick in registration of Rose as a middle name after 1997.

Is middle name data collected and published by the ONS like first name data? I'd wonder if there was a noticeable uptick in registration of Rose as a middle name after 1997.
Not that I'm aware of, but the ONS stats treat hyphenated names as a full name, and the most popular hyphenated name is -Rose.

...there is another thread running where the op is wanting to use Wren and it just doesn't work as a middle name.
It will sound like N with many names. Sophia Wren sounds like Sophia(r) N.