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?

I agree, I don't think it's unusual for siblings to share a middle name (especially if it's a mother's maiden name - which is, or at least used to be, quite common in Scotland I think).

Given twins will probably share a DOB and surname, I think if they are also going to share a middle name then the first names should have a different first initial.

Dh and his brother have the same middle name, as do the other men/boys in the family.

So no, not weird.

I have 3 girls and they all share the same middle name mainly as it’s my middle name. We joke they’ll have to carry it on eventually. My parents have no idea where my middle name came from although my dad jokes it was his favourite page 3 girl in the 80’s. I figured one day the girls may ditch their surname but there’s no escaping their official link to me!

Nope - every single male in my family has the same middle name going back about 4 generations. No idea why that started but impossible to stop now!

I was going to say something similar.

John and James for example.

Yes this. Just look up all the variations of John and pick two. Don't give either of them John.

Why on earth are middle names an embarrassment? Unless it's a ludicrous name! And a waste of time? ???

Odd comments!

@LemonDrizzle69 I think giving them the same middle name is odd. That's just my opinion. I would think it strange if someone told me they had done this.

My mum has the same middle name as all of her siblings; DH and his brother have the same middle name. I think it’s fairly common. If you go on to have subsequent children, I think that they (certainly any boys) would have to have the same middle name too.

It's really 'not fairly common' at all.

I have never known anyone do this. Give all their children the same middle name.

It sounds mental to me! Not least because John is such a generic name it's almost not worth having! If you really need to include it then I would give it as a second middle name so that you've nodded to it, but you've also given each of them a first and middle name that you like/are meaningful to you specifically.

No. It’s it’s a family name it would be odd to give it to one and not the other

You’re female with a middle name of John? That’s already slightly unusual so I would say crack on and give the name to both boys, especially if your partner is also name John surname.

Mine. Not ludicrous or awful but dated, seasonal and the first forename.

The full name is something like Noelle Jessica Plates, known as Jess/Jessica all my life.

I've never used it other than on official documents, I hate being called it and curse my parents for it . WTF were they thinking?

Growing up I knew a family where all the siblings had the same middle name regardless of gender. What about two middles names? Then it’s individual name individual name John surname.

If it's a middle name no one will use it or care so go for it if it makes you both happy.

Why don't you call one of the twins John as a first name.
Give them a shared middle name like a nice surname from your side of the family.

Surely you can find another name? The male version of a female relative?

If it’s a family name I think it’s absolutely fine to give them the same middle name. Or use it as an additional name.

So Methuselah Nebuchadnezzar John Smith and Romulus Malcolm John Smith absolutely ok.

Clearly not. My post says we have the same male family name. The males down my Dad’s side all have the middle name John. The males down my partners side (partner included) have the middle name John too.

Me too

I gave all my children 2 middle names and just saw it as a great opportunity to have more choices!

‘Myself and my partner both so happen to have to same male ‘family’ middle name (John)’

i don’t think that’s very clear at all.

Mum of twin boys, also found it very hard to pick names, they both have family names as middle names but not the same. It also took us a good 24hrs to decided which names for which too. My boys are also fraternal and look completely different, different hair colour and complexions. I always feared they would be compared and treated as 1.
are you going for traditional first names?

As long as they don’t have the same initial for their first name, go for it.

if possible, I think I would spell them differently - John and Jon maybe.

my friend gave her first son the family name and not her second son. The second son has now added it to his name (he’s an adult)

Because middle names are often those of older relatives, such as grandparents.
Maybe it’s my generation but nearly every one of my age has a middle name they don’t like because it’s old fashioned or just awful… this is my experience!

My brothers share the same second middle name. It’s never been an issue, I think it’s lovely.