Would it be odd for twin boys to share a middle name?

[LemonDrizzle69]

I’m currently pregnant with twin boys.
We have come up with one definite first name, the second is still an ongoing discussion!
My question is, is it odd for twins to share a middle name? They are fraternal twins and we will be keen to ensure they are treated as individuals.
Myself and my partner both so happen to have to same male ‘family’ middle name (John) Would it be strange to give them both the family middle name or should we look at maybe introducing a new middle name with meaning for one of them? If they were ‘just’ siblings, I’d be more inclined to give them both the same middle name, and although yes, they are siblings, them being born at the same time is holding me back from choosing to have them share a middle name for some reason…
What are your thoughts?

Yes. I think it would be weird. They are separate people.

i say go for it. If it matters to you both that’s all that matters. I think it’s absolutely fine.

DH and his brother aren’t twins but share a middle name. A friend of mine also has 2 boys who share a family middle name. It’s not too unusual so you could do it. If it were me though I’d want them to have different middle names

Congratulations! I have twins too. I think the same middle name will be fine, so long as their first names are very individual. (So not Jaden and Kaden or anything like that!)

I wouldn’t and I definitely wouldn’t if their first name will be the same initial.

What about family middle names? I know two families where all the boys have had the same middle name ( previously a surname) for generations.

Of course we are aware of that. As I said, if they were siblings born 5 years apart for example, they would share the family middle name.
Them being born at the same time is all that is stopping us. More that I want to try and do as much as possible to stop the world treating them like a pair of people.
It’s not like the middle names will be used regularly but obviously they are still part of their names.

I think that’s lovely if it’s a family name.

To be honest middle names are a waste of time at best and an embarrassment at worst so I don’t think it really matters if they have the same middle name.
How about just not giving them a middle name, makes life much simpler.

I think either do it for both or neither but not just one of them. If the name actually is John, I definitely think it's fine, it's almost like a second surname.

I have rwins and as long as you treat them as individuals I would think ok. However make sure they have different initials as when you have the same dob and initials it could get confusing.

I share a middle name with my sister (not twins), and my mother and my grandmother come to think of it. Probably a few other relatives going further back!

It’s Anne, so hardly revolutionary but it’s seemingly a family name.

Have just realised this second that I probably should have given it to DD, but she’s 6 now so it’s probably a bit late!!

Identical twins in my family have the same middle name (which is a family surname from mother's side). Never been an issue. Middle names are never asked for so who even knows a person's middle name, and although they are seen very much as 'the twins' now, that's because they are teenagers and at school, clubs together. Once they are adults, which they will be for the vast majority of their lives, most people probably won't know them as one of a pair. They have first names with different initials so no issues there.

I'd give them three names with one in common.

Thank you.
Yes, that’s sort of why we’re struggling for a second name! We don’t want them ‘matching’ in any way but then their names will be said together quite a bit when they’re little I imagine so they do need to flow… just not match or rhyme! 🫣

Can you give their grandads first names aa middle names?

All five of a friend's grandchildren have the same family middle name.

Twin here, my twin DSis and l have same first and middle names but in reverse. Think Kathryn Ann, Ann Kathryn, obviously nothing like our real names.
Nightmare tbh as my dsis is terrible with money, lots of people chasing and l get debt collectors chasing me and then when they find out same D.O.B etc as well as first two names, they won't accept it. Just think I'm trying get away with it. DSis couldn't care a jot, bless her.

What about different versions of the name, eg John in Welsh is Siôn, Ioan or Ieuan. In Irish it would be Sean.

At my primary school there was a family of 3 girls who all had the same middle name. It also rhymed with their unusual surname and alliterated with their first names. Made them sound like a matching set of dolls. eg Millie May Doopeyday, Martha May Doopyday and Margaret May Doopeyday.

I also taught twins who were called something similar to Ellie-May and Ella-May (hyphenated rather than middle names) and again I just thought it made them seem like a matching set not their own person.

so I wouldn’t do it!

Both my boys have my maiden name as their middle name so I don't see it as being an issue!

We’re struggling enough to come up with even a second first name for one of them! I can’t imagine finding that many names that I like and that sound right together! 😂🫣

I’d give them each two middle names-

first name second name John Surname

All my 5 children share a middle name. Its my last name but is also a gender neutral common first name. I didn't realise it was weird until I had already given it to my first three and I couldn't then not give it to the the younger two without them being the odd ones out!

Honestly I can't really say that I care if anyone finds it odd. My kids don't care and it's not like you routinely go around asking sibling sets for their middle names.

I don't see an issue at all so long as their first names are sufficiently distinct (John is lovely BTW). Hardly anyone in their lives will ever know their middle names and presumably if you have more sons they will have John too so it is just a nice family thing that ties them all together. You've got enough of a challenge coming up with two first names at the same time!