Middle name - *go with what MAY be my hormones or choose what may be cooler for him??*

[purplemania]

Help! DS2 is James and we need a middle name. Now down to 2 options: Francis (my bro's middle name - mum is Frances and plenty of Franks/Francis down the generations on my side of the family, even though they'd be so distant to DS he'd not connect to them) or Cullen (surname from DH's side of the family)

My emotions tell me Francis (after all he gets DH's surname anyway) but it's more about me as strangely I never liked the name before having kids and feeling all fuzzy about family ties all of a sudden (like it now though)Feel I'd like to know he's connected to me through his name - selfish though?

My head tells me Cullen (it's unusual, looks good, think he'll think it's cool when he grows up - BUT it's another name from DH's side)This option more about him and what he might like I think...
Both names sound good with our surname which is Scottish.

Have decided to only have one middle name, so don't really want to just have them both out of indecision...Advice needed!

We went for two middle names for just this reason, but if I had to choose I would say Francis, just seems to flow really nicely after James

Thanks yawning monster - nice to feel someone else is up at this godforsaken time!

I vote for Francis, but then I have a Francis of my own here - ds1.

if we have a boy next we might go for 2 middle names. After both our dads. Makes life a lot easier!!

James Francis Cullen....

Sounds lovely!

DS1 only has 1 middle name - feel a bit funny about giving DS2 more - any thoughts?

DS1 has only one middle name (DH's), DS2 has 2 - don't think #1 will be too traumatised by having one less!!!

I would forget everything else and just go for which you LIKE best.
Having a child with a name you later regret must be annoying?!

toss a coin

It is all about compromise. But personally, no offence, I don't care for the name Francis. I think it is slightly girly for a boy but I am American so I don't know that much about boy and girl names overseas.

Two middle names is good too. My third and last boy has two middle names...david craig laurence...

Francis reminds me of The Reluctant Cannibal I'm afraid, so I'd go for Cullen. Sorry.

francis

Nowt wrong with Francis or Frances

I like Francis. My dd's middle name is Frances, also a family name. But Cullen is certainly unusual (I've never even heard of it) and I approve very strongly of using family names as middle names. I think that's the best possible use for a middle name and really regret not giving my ds a family middle name.

What was the story behind DS1's middle name? Was that a family name and if so from which side?

Probably Francis, though.

James Francis Cullen sounds great, flows well.

Why not use both?

I have one middle name, my sister has two. We have never fallen out over it

i wouldn't use cullen because of jamie cullen the singer

He's Jamie Cullum, FilchTMMJ

aaahhhh[dons old fogie hat] oh well sounds similar......

francis is nice!!

I like family names being passed down - we named dd after sil and sis - Amy Victoria.

Both.

I have 2 middle names, my sister has none, brother no.1 has 2, brother no.2 has 1 and brother no.3 has none.

My dd's and ds all have 1 middle name. None of them are named after anyone in either family, I couldn't be doing with the arguments - she/he is named after me, no it's after me, no it's after me.

Go with Francis. Your wish to have your family connections commemorated will get stronger as you get older, not weaker, so you won't regret it.
But I agree the two together look nice too.