Middle Names

Selecting a middle name for your baby can be just as difficult as choosing their first name. In some cases, it can be even harder. If you have fallen in love with a first name for your baby, you now have the task of selecting a middle name that will not only flow well but also has great meaning. Often parents will default to parents or grandparent’s names as a way to honor their elder family members, but there is a whole world of creative middle names out there waiting for you to choose them!

History of Middle Names

Most people only heard their middle names when they were in trouble. Even as an adult, some might cringe when they hear their mother say their full name. But where did middle names actually come from?

Historically, children were named after saints to protect them as they grew. However, as time passed, parents wanted to name their children after family members along with their saintly names. This desire opened the door to children being given two names: a first name and a middle name.

According to MyHeritage, middle names date all the way back to the 1200s. The upper echelon of society in Italy began giving their children middle names, and the concept spread throughout Europe, taking hold in Spain and France. Eventually, the lower classes adopted the use of middle names for their children.

According to historian Stephen Wilson, who wrote The Means of Naming: A Social History, 50% of the boys in France only had one name at the beginning of the 19th century while 37% had a middle name. By the time France reached the end of the 19th century, 46% of boys had two names while 23% had three, meaning a first name and two middle names.

England and Scotland jumped on the trend a little later than their European neighbors. In 1605 very few children had two names. Even by 1800, only 10% had two names. However, once the 19th century came around, middle names were widespread across Europe and the United States.

Each culture had a different take on middle names. In some countries or cultures, a child’s middle name was often used as their first name. For example, in Spanish culture, daughters were all given the name Maria with a different middle name. Their middle names were used on a daily basis to differentiate between the girls. Arabic and Spanish cultures tended to give children maternal or paternal names from older family members to keep track of the child’s genealogy.

In some families and communities, there may be a singular middle name that all family members use. For example, every boy in a family may have the middle name of Paul, while all the girls have the middle name of Ann. Other cultures used the mother’s maiden name as a middle name, while others gave their baby the last name of the clergyman they were baptized by as a middle name.

Eventually, society began to move away from cultural standards favoring more creative middle names that strengthen children’s first names and enhance the overall flow.

How To Choose A Middle Name

Being more creative with your child’s middle name selection does not make the decision any easier. On the contrary, having a multitude of options can make it a little more complicated. So here are a few tips to make the decision a little bit easier.

Get Creative

If you and your partner have gone a more traditional route with your child’s first name, you leave the door open for some creativity with their middle name. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun and choose something unexpected.

Honor A Loved One

Middle names can give you an opportunity to honor someone near and dear. Even though you are honoring a family member or dear friend, the middle name does not have to be the exact name or even the same gender. Don’t be afraid to spin a name like Jack into Jackson for a boy or spin it to Jackie for a girl. You could also use the last name as a middle name, giving the nod to a grandmother, grandfather, or even a great-grandparent. It is equally as sentimental as it is unexpected.

Consider How The Whole Name Sounds

You want the first name and the middle name to flow well together. Try saying the first and middle names together out loud. If the two do not seem to flow well together, you may need to move on to your second choice. Conversely, if the first name and middle name sound a little too sing-songy, they may flow a little too well. A middle name and first name should not sound like one name smushed together. Having names with different syllable counts can help with the flow.

Examine The Initials

Initials can be very important. They can be the inspiration for sweet nicknames and look adorable embroidered on those tiny hooded baby towels. But, initials can also be problematic. Write out your child’s initials to ensure that the letters do not spell out anything inappropriate or embarrassing. A bad set of initials can be embarrassing and become a source for teasing and bullies in school, which can stick with your child through school and eventually follow them to their job. Write the first, middle, and last names out as a whole and solely as initials to ensure they look okay on paper no matter how they are segmented.

Use More Than One

If you cannot narrow your choices down to a singular middle name, you can always choose two! While it may not be common, there are people out there besides members of the Royal family who have two middle names. Often, parents will pair a middle name they like with a family name giving their child a pair of middle names to go by, which may, in fact, be even more terrifying to hear when they are in trouble!

Pairing a common middle name like James with a family name like Hamilton can have a nice ring to it. Don’t feel like you have to settle on just one.

Plus it gives you some fun options when custom designing a monogram with two middle names. Think customized baby items like blankets and clothes!

Family Lineage

Some middle names are meant to be used as first names. In some families, carrying on the family legacy of naming the firstborn son after their father is incredibly important. Naming the child will be the easy part since they will be a junior or may even be the third or fourth in their family to carry on the tradition. However, when multiple family members have the same name, it may be a little difficult to differentiate between everyone at family gatherings.

In this case, a child may go by their middle name if that is not already taken by another family member. Some children may just go by junior to avoid getting confused with their fathers. If there are multiple generations with the same name, you may have to get a little more creative.

Combination Names

Middle names do not always have to go unnoticed. While some parents opt to give their child a middle name that is seldom used, others choose a middle name that is seen and heard at all times. Names like Mary Jo and Bobby Sue come to mind, though the pairing doesn’t have to be as common as the example. Get creative with the combinations. Just remember to check the initials!

Forgo A Middle Name

This option may be even more uncommon than kids with multiple middle names, but it has been known to happen. Having a middle name is not a requirement. Kids can get through life just fine with only a first name and a last name like they did before Italy made middle names popular in the 1200s. So while it may be rare, don’t be afraid of this option. If you have a first name that fits so perfectly with your last name that adding a middle name throws it off balance, then don’t!

Most Popular Middle Names

Some middle names are more popular than others, spanning many generations. While they aren’t the most creative names out there, they often flow well with just about any first name making them an easy choice for those having a hard time selecting a middle name that pairs nicely with their child’s first name.

However, there is no right or wrong way to pick a middle name for your child. After all, it is your child. Choose a middle name that fits your family, culture and flows well with their first name. If you want to honor a family member by using their name or last name as your child’s middle name, go for it! Be as creative as you want. Just do your child a favor and make sure their initials won’t create any awkward words or phrases that kids will tease them about in school!