I don't understand why people get so hung up on having a middle name for their child. I can see there are genuine reasons when a middle name is appropriate - for instance if there are two names you really love and you can't bear to give one up; or if there is a family connection or you wish to honour a person by giving your child their name, then I can see the point of that.
But if you have a name you love, why isn't it enough just to give your child a single name? There seem to be loads of posts on here from people trying to think of middle names to go with the first names they have chose, and I just don't really get why??
It's not even like it gets used very often, or has a use - after the birth it gets announced as one name to friends and relatives, but after that, do you ever meet new mums at baby and toddler groups and introduce your child as 'Thomas Marmaduke'?
I only have one given name, as do my brother and sister, and we've all grown up to be perfectly well-rounded successful people. I can't think of a single occasion when not having a middle name has been an issue for me - if anything, it's been a bonus as we've never had to have that embarrassing 'revealing of the middle name' conversation with friends/new partners etc. I also know a number of people who refuse to reveal their middle name as they're so mortified by it!
And so, I ask you, what's the berluddy point? I'm not trying to be controversial, I'm just curious!