Why do people bother giving middle names to children?

[Nevada]

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

I don't have a middle name and neither does my brother. the reason is because my mum said that she never used her middle name so didn't see any point in us having one.

My dh hates his middle name and doesn't tell anyone what it is.

As a result my two dd's don't have middle names, I did originally want to give them middle names because as a child I felt I was missing out on something since everyone else had one, but after mentioning it to people they all said that they either hated their middle name or never used it.

So the dd's have no middle names and will probably spend all their time going through school demanding to know why they don't have one when everyone else does. But then had I given them middle names I know it would have resulted in conversations along the lines of "Why on earth did you give me that middle name?" You just can't win really.

HM- pmsl

Dh has no middle name. I feel vaguely sorry for him.

I'm with Aloha - feel vaguely sorry for people with no middle name. Don't actually use mine but it's nice to know it's there should I ever feel like it. Makes it less likely there will be anyone else in the world with the exact same name as mine (if they exist, google doesn't know about them). I like being unique!

Ds has his two grandfather's names as his middles - as soon as we saw the scan dh announced 'so he's x x x then', the first name being the only boys name on which we were agreed.

oh just thought of a very good reason why we gave our boys middle names.

So when theyr'e older and getting their own post we'll know who's is who's

I spent 90% of my school years being teased for my rhyming name, Lockets so I stick with my opinion

love middle names so much - reduces the agony of having to choose just one. Wanted ds to have a Jewish first name and Christian second name, wanted ds not to be called jack for his first name (great name, just there's a lot in the family which is why dh wanted it) and wanted to call ds after my dad without having to think of my dad every time I speak to ds.

My dad and mum have always been called their second names since they were small, having both been called after tragically dead relatives for their first names. When they got married, they received one telegram 'to Cecil and Annette' and my mum's dad said 'Who?'

I didn't get a middle name and I hated that at school, felt really left out, even from the teasing. My Mum couldn't see the point either, and we spent hours fantasizing about what we would choose (Amy for me).

All of my boys have second names- one more than one! DS1 (Samuel) got my maiden name as a middle name, as it was Godfrey which is a bit old fashioned for a first name, but we were a girls only generation and I know it meant a lot to my Dad that the name is carried forwards. DS2 had an unusual name that we loved but lots of poeple hated- Stirling- so we gave him an option (Max) he can use later if he wants, though in fact he loves his name at the mo. DS3 is named after DH's Dad (Harold) but known as Harry. His middle names are my maternal Grandad's surname (Griffith) as again an all girl generation, and because we'd been so dutiful I shoved in the name of my fave pop star when I was a girl (Jarvis). just for fun Mostly it's 'duty' names, but I had to have my giggle too

hunkermunker- not fair to say only dull people have one name: only people with DULL MOTHERS have no name, surely?

An argument for no middle name actually is my Mum, who is Julia Cynthia Griffith and had a lisp!!! Or my Dad who is Brian John... where I grew up a BJ was a blow job- would that be while I didn't get a middle name then?

PC...I was being deliberately inflammatory

Agree re dull mothers though

Only teasing!!!!

I have a doube barrelled first name then a middle name and a double barrelled surname lol lots of fun when filling in forms.
DS has first name 2 middle names and a double barrelled surname, DH is Albanian and they don't have middle names but he does have double barrelled surname since marrying me hahahaha

Lockets Mae is part of my first name.....
Vaunda-Mae, Vaunda is polish and means wonderful and MAe was my dads mum who died when he was 13 so in actual fact I am wonderful Mae. lol

DH was called by both 1st & 2nd together to distinguish from his dad (& grandad!) who have same first name
In fact dad & grandad have same 1st & 2nd name How mad is that!!!

I have middle name - dont like it.

DS (3 1/2) refuses to acknowledge he has middle name - taught him early on what his name is but didnt bother mentioning middle name. Big mistake.

DD has 2 cos we couldnt decide which name we liked best.

I don't like middle names. I think it is nice when someone gives a middle name named after a relative or using the mothers maiden name is a nice touch but otherwise I don't see the point. I also find it odd that there are certain names that seem to get used as middle names all the time. At school nearly all of my friends had the middle name Louise or Marie, they are both pretty names but why they are relegated to middle names all the time?

It's nice to be able to choose two names (or more if you are greedy....saw one in the TImes with five!.)

My maiden name was so short (three letters ) that I was grateful for a middle name.

I think that the middle names also add to the rhythm of the whole name and can make it more lovely just to say.

My mum, FIL and MIL all use their middle names as first names.

decorative or to keep up a tradition
why have names- why not numbers or bar codes ..
c'mon, it's civilised!

Stacym11, my dads mum was called Mae and mums mum is Lillian May I am Vaunda-Mae.
My dads initials were MRH my brothers are MRH and mine are VMRH lol.
On my mums side almost all the males are/were called James or Jimmy for short.
I always got called Maisy by my dad and now since losing him nobody is allowed to call me that... is more than their lives are worth.
My DS's names are all initials in my middle name which I haven't told anyone lol.
Both of my nephews have names which are family names from both sides of the family.
Mum's middle name is her mums first name.
We have 8 daniels ranging from dead to 13yrs old.
And mum and I have just traced our family tree on her side and found we have many (9/10) generations of James'.

My ds came with a first and surname but not middle name, when the adoption is finalised his new birth cert will have four names, original first, my dad's name second, original surname third and my dh's surname last. We were thinking about not adding my dad's name, but in the end it was nice to be able to choose a name ourselves.

you might want more choice later
eg one of my rellies happens to have the same name as a mass murderer... so he uses his middle name instead of his first name for work etc

I'll shudder and say "poor child" all I like thanks. I've suffered a rhyming name and it's horrible.