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!

Cullen, as you can be a bit more adventurous with the middle name.
Middle names are a wee bit pointless imo. My DS's middle names are Rex and Jesse.

I think the middle name should be something from the mum's side of the family as most babies will be getting the surname from dad. I think it's nice to have a bit of heritage in a name so I'd say Francis - ok it's a bit less popular today but isn't that what middle names are for? you're supposed to be a little bit ho hum about middle names I reckon.

Francis, as others have said, he's got his surname from dh's side of the family, he should have something from yours, too.

There again, in the States people are currently calling girls Rory and Finlay and cooing that they sound "so feminine" [briefly considers impact of telling Rory Underwood or Finlay Calder that they are big girly-men and decides against it]

(Yes, I spend too much time lurking on US baby-naming boards...)

I wouldn't worry about the Yanks, by the time young James Francis grows up we'll all be speaking Cantonese anyway so US views on the femininity of English or Scottish names will be a very moot point.

Thanks usandnosleep - we finally went for Cullen which I actually like better and am very pleased. Bro is having a baby in October and my niece/nephew can have our family names! That includes Handy, Moses, Ezekiel etc. etc....