Is there anyone out there giving only one name these days?

[toja555]

Hi, I never understood the two name (first-middle) madness, because I haven't meet anyone that is called with both names. I understand if it is given following cultural tradition, or family tradition involving family names, but other than that? My DS has only one name and I am now expecting the 2nd DC. I am feeling pressurised when someone asks what middle name I am thinking of... I am not thinking of that, I am only thinking of the only one, perfect name for our baby. Is this right nowadays? Is there anyone out there who is not giving a middle name?

My parents don't have middle names and nor do I but my brother does, which they could only explain by saying they couldn't decide what name to give him, but they still seem to find it weird that they did it!

I have survived quite happily without one and it makes filling in forms less tiresome and long-winded

I don't see the point at all in middle names just because you like the name. If you've given the child the name you really really like as their first name then why would you bother to give them one you didn't like enough to be their first name as the middle one? And most middle names are dull anyway - every girl I was at school with bar one had either Jane or Louise as their middle name. What's the point?

Having said that, I do personally like using a family name as I think that is a bit different as it honours your family and your roots. But I'm a bit of a genealogy geek. So my DS has my mum's maiden name as a middle name - because women invariably lose their surnames so it felt nice to give it back to someone, and also because that side of my family contains my favourite aunts and uncles and cousins so it was honouring them all. And DD who we expect in Sept will have either DH's nan's first name or her surname as a middle name as she was a very special lady and died at 95 just before our DS was born so never knew either of her GGCs, and we want to honour her memory.

But a random middle name? No point. Don't feel pressurised!

agree with your post megonthemoon

I find people tend to think I'm lying about the fact that I don't have a middle name. They assume I do actually have one, but it must be so awful that I lie about it.

But my parent's middle names are Leslie and Wendy, so maybe they have a point