I have never understood what drives people to constantly ask me, “What’s your middle name?” Even more so, why the perplexed look of amazement and disbelief when I tell them I don’t have one? I mean, even if I had one, who would ever call me by it? I have never addressed any of my closest friends by their middle names, nor would they expect me to. It’s only a rare bunch of people who insist on you calling them by their first and middle name together and well, let’s face it, I sometimes don’t really get them either. I’m wondering all of this because here we are, 7 weeks from my due date, and our baby #2 has no middle name. We have gotten a host of suggestions and offerings for names, but as it has already taken us this long to agree on a first name for this baby, I’m finding that selecting a middle name is even more taxing for me, especially considering the fact that I am still unclear as to WHAT IS THE POINT OF A MIDDLE NAME? Interestingly enough, I came across a forum on the internet posing this very question. Here are what I found to be the top ten responses:
10. A middle name gives you more individuality. I guess, if anyone ever knows it or calls you by it.
9. If you don’t like your 1st name, you can opt to use your middle name.
8. In order to please the two sides of the family. Yeah, we’ve actually thought about that one
7. It gives you an extra name to pick from as to which one you want to be called.
6. In case your first name fails to fulfill its duties the middle name is to take over. Is it really that serious?
5. So the parents can be creative and have fun. Umm..i.e. Moxie Crimefighter Gillette (daughter of Penn Gillette)
4. If you become notorious, it is easier to remember you! Lee Harvey Oswald. Ok, that’s inspiring…NOT!
3. Trying to use up all the girl/boy baby names. I’m kinda hoping we won’t come close to using up all of the baby names.
2. So when you’re in trouble, your mom can yell, “Christopher Ryan, get your *ss over here and clean your room.” Well, that’s pretty true And here’s the number 1 reason I can relate to….
1. Parents seem to need yet another thing to argue about. Ding Ding Ding Ding!
I also learned that apparently, the use of middle names were actually unheard of in the US until the 19th century, so there were quite a few memorable names that lacked them (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, etc.). Soooo, would baby #2 really be lacking without a middle name? Any thoughts on this?
awesome post!
I’m a middle-nam-a-holic. I had one growing up and I hated it (I shouldn’t say had one I still have it!)
My first two kids actually have two middle names. But my husband kind of put out my fire on the the third baby (lol-I almost made it mandatory!)
I believe there are power in names for sure and not to limit my kids but when I picked theirs…I kinda had the hope that they would grow into them….(lol- no pressure right?)
But a baby having no middle name is no big deal…
I don’t think the new kiddie would lack at all without one- to each his own…just as long as the first name isn’t _______….I’d be better off not naming any names here! 😉