Why do people bother giving middle names to children?

[Nevada]

I just can't see the point. When would you use them?

Cod - I'm just really posh (but am also common coz I use reins ... ooops ... that's another thread ...)

My nanna is Margaret Joan but known as Joan
My g-aunt is Frieda but known as Muriel and my g-uncle was George but known as Thomas
My g-nanna had 10 kids and she just seemed to change their names to suit her!

I gave my DS his middle name as he has an unusual first name - I considered that whilst we love it he may grow up to hate it, so I like the fact he has an option.

I chose his dads middle name as his middle name. I don't have a family to name names after, so I also rather like the fact that he's the first to be named after someone (in the unlikely event that that makes sense to anyone )

I always felt very hard-done-by because I didn't have a middle name, and have to confess (like others) to making one up. So I gave all my girls middle names but have to say they never get used.

Easier to give my three two middle names each than to have nine children! - just kidding! I wouldn't feel complete without my middle names though (especially as I have one no-one's ever heard of - guaranteed - which I've now passed on to dd).

hehe - I knew that would get someone going - lol! It's true though, but I can't post it here - it'd totally blow my cover! Cadbury will back me up though - she knows it! Will happily tell you if you really want to know hm! CAT me! Guarantee you'll read it and go 'what?!'

I gave mine middle names so that when they are in trouble with me they would know it.

first name = all is well
first and second name = there may be trouble ahead
first, second and surname = you can run, but you cannot hide.

Works fantastically! You should see their faces if I have to use the full name

Brings me pure joy! lol

pmsl Marsy! Must try that! Strangely I never have!

ML...DS laughs uproariously if I use first name and middle name. He seems to think it's the punchline

Aero, have sent you a CAT. Am NoseyHunker - PMSL!

LOL ML ...
My children have two middle names. They have a poncey family name that I hate but DH insisted upon.
Their proper middle names are a nice way to acknowledge the older generation (my father and DH's grandmother) without lumbering the child with a name they won't like.

My best friend and her sister don't have middle names and when I saw them recently they regret that their parents didn't give them any. Their children all have middle names.

Will reply tomorrow hm - off to bed now.

night cousin!

Aero.. why are you famous or summat???!

My DH, his bro and their dad are all called by their middle names.. mad! And v confusing. We can be sitting in a waiting room and DH's proper name will be called and neither of us responds unless we are concentrating hard! I'm sure we must appear to be fraudsters.. or people on the runm sometimes!

My children have middle names because I think it gives them more of their own identity. When I had DD, 6 years after DS1 and with a different partner, I decided that I would give them the same initials (as both surnames began with the same letter) seeing as they would have different surnames.. (DS1 still has his dad's surname..) but it's been nothing but hassle! This didnt stop me briefly considering calling my last (and suprise) baby (DS2) something with the same initials.. but luckily came to my senses! He has two middle names.. after both his grandads.

SJ x

My grandfather was John Charles but always used Charles John. His dad was a little "confused" and forgot that his older brother was already called John Charles!!

AERO!! Who are you!! I am intrigued!! Are you someone we would 'all' know... or am I misunderstanding??!

i am known by my middle name- have never been called anything different, and cannot understand why i wasnt registered with the name they have always called me by!

however it has never been a problem every official document i have apart from my birth certificate shows my middle name as my first name IYSWIM

Dh is the same Strugstu. He's never been called by his first name but when it comes to all things legal he has to be.

I thought it was the norm to give your child a middle name. I'm always a bit shocked when people say they don't.

My little one is Chloe May, as May was my nans and my great nans middle name (from different sides of the family) so i just thought itd be a lovely link between the two families and it makes her name sound original

I always wanted one and felt jealous cause my brother has one. Therefore each of my kids has 2 middle names - all family names.

pmsl SJ - me? - famous? ! Rofl!! No - I'm just me, Aero, known and loved by many - well, a few (hopefully)....lol. But I do have a very unusual middle name which would for sure identify me to any members of my family who might stumble across this iyswim - hence the reason for not posting it here. Feel free to CAT me if you want to know it though - I don't make a secret of it - just don't want anyone I know to read my posts (especially after the recent events involving my sister) and know it's me.

Re. the middle name thing, my father has a very unusual name, and his parents thought he might get teased at school, so they gave him a "normal" first name. He has never been called it, but I'm not aware that it's ever been a problem. Some forms have a space where you can put in your preferred name (I think this is because some cultures have different style for recording the first/family name). We were thinking of doing the same for our expected ds - but she turned out to be dd instead.

Shows a total lack of imagination to only think of one name IMO.

Only dull people have one name.