Gransnet forums

Chat

Does anyone have a middle name?

(72 Posts)
Lizzies Sat 18-Jul-26 16:09:59

Neither my husband or I had a middle name, but we gave our daughter one and she has gone one further with her sons who both have two names and two family names.

Labradora Sat 18-Jul-26 15:59:04

MissAdventure

My mum absolutely denied having a middle name as she disliked it so much, but it wasn't that bad, in my opinion.

This has prompted me to remember that my late mother had two middle names so at least one was definitely not a confirmation name; my late father and my younger sister both had an "extra" or middle name but I'm not sure if they were "confirmation" names that they used as a middle name or alternatively were given at birth; neither I nor my elder sister had a middle name given at birth so we come as a very plain package names-wise.

Overthemoongran Sat 18-Jul-26 15:47:40

Before my younger brother was born I had an imaginary friend. At the age of three I was allowed to give that name to my brother, one of his two middle names, and I never needed my imaginary friend again.

Bukkie Sat 18-Jul-26 15:46:46

My middle name is Louise like most people born in the 70s.

Sarnia Sat 18-Jul-26 15:41:28

I have Elizabeth as my middle name as my Grandmothers were Elizabeth and Eliza. In my family at least, middle names are usually family ones.

Ashcombe Sat 18-Jul-26 15:40:03

My sister and I were both given second names both of which were Biblical. I in turn bestowed my second name on my DD2. She dislikes it intensely, probably because of a girl she knew at Primary School with that name whom she disliked!

polomint Sat 18-Jul-26 15:39:39

I always thought that having a middle name would be beneficial in signing legal documents. There could be plenty " John Smith" for example but not many " John Alan Smith" so no mix ups

Grandma70s Sat 18-Jul-26 15:39:12

I have a middle name, but my brother doesn’t. My father thought boys should only have one name, as he had. Don’t know why.

My own sons have middle names. I tried to give them middle names that were rather more ordinary than their first names, in case they preferred to switch. Neither has done.

My grandchildren both have three names (that is, two middle names). Much more scope for the imagination!

MissAdventure Sat 18-Jul-26 15:34:04

My mum absolutely denied having a middle name as she disliked it so much, but it wasn't that bad, in my opinion.

Plevey08 Sat 18-Jul-26 15:22:36

I know what you mean Ekwa as my husband insisted on giving our youngest son a middle name, the same as his father's. My son just doesn't use it. He has to in any legal situation or marriage etc but grimaces when he hears it.

JamesandJon33 Sat 18-Jul-26 15:17:59

I have a middle name. It’s French, as part of my mother’s family were from the Channel Isles

EkwaNimitee Sat 18-Jul-26 15:13:19

I do and I detest it. It's a combination of my 2 grandmothers' forenames (but an existing girls name) so I presume my parents were being diplomatic.

Jules777 Sat 18-Jul-26 15:13:05

I have a middle name that was given to me by my parents, all my siblings likewise have middle names. My children both have middle names, and almost everyone I know has a middle name. Not one of us could credibly be described as "posh," either. In my experience it is a rarity to discover that an acquaintance hasn't actually been given a middle name!

MissAdventure Sat 18-Jul-26 15:09:26

No, I've not got one.

Romola Sat 18-Jul-26 15:09:10

My father was the second boy. His mother, my GM, was so disappointed that he wasn't the longed-for girl that he wasn't given a second name. The elder son and the subsequent daughter both had second names. I think my father always felt unwanted and became a bit of a black sheep, refusing to go into the family business and becoming a musician.

Plevey08 Sat 18-Jul-26 15:04:54

I was the last of many children...I think my parents were somewhat weary. My middle name is the same as my eldest sister's first name 🤣

Labradora Sat 18-Jul-26 15:04:10

I was raised a Catholic so have a "confirmation" name in addition to my christian name. I don't use the confirmation name as a middle name or initial.
I'm not sure why.

Cossy Sat 18-Jul-26 15:03:22

I have a middle name as does DH. The four children I have biologically all have two middle names!

Magenta8 Sat 18-Jul-26 15:02:35

I have two middle names and I have never been accused described as being posh.

Ilovecheese Sat 18-Jul-26 14:59:58

I have one, it was my Grandmother's name. Two of my Granddaughters also have it as their middle name.

Doodledog Sat 18-Jul-26 14:56:39

I have one. It is an old-fashioned name that has been given to first daughters in my mum's side of the family for generations, as either a first or middle name. My daughter has it as a middle name too.

I don't use it often, but add the initial when initials are in use (eg Action Points on minutes) so that there is less confusion.

polomint Sat 18-Jul-26 14:52:52

My grandaughter is going to have a baby soon and I presume he/ she will have a middle name. I hope so. It is one of my regrets that my husband did not want his daughter's to have a middle name as he thought it was only for " posh" people. I have a middle name and I am not posh I told him . I did however make sure our son had a middle name but I still regret our daughters didn't