Baby middle names give many parents-to-be another reason for a sleepless night.
Often, most attention is paid to choosing a perfect baby name for that all-important first name.
And baby's middle name can be left down at the bottom of the to-do list... or even forgotten altogether!
Can it really be so difficult to choose a middle name? Well - not necessarily.
It's time to pay a little attention to this baby name challenge by working through some middle name considerations and checking out practical strategies for choosing!
So - how did you choose my middle name?
Tips:
- choose a familiar family name
- try old favorites or something more dazzling!
- check combinations of first, middle and surname
- say the whole name out loud
- take care with initials
Middle name considerations
Middle names work hard for a living. They carry the weight of first name and last name on their shoulders - but they certainly mustn't appear to be the star performers - there is no point having a middle name that pushes the two names surrounding it off the stage and into the orchestra pit!
Unless, of course, the chosen first or last name are not quite to your taste - and you require a middle name that will save the day!
A middle name should form the backing music... ...not always noticeable but nonetheless contributing to the rhythm and sound of the whole name. It adds atmosphere, an extra talking point maybe, and - as we shall see - an extra initial.
Do think carefully about your baby's middle name; all too often a "nice" name is chosen that neither fits with the names it joins, nor has any real meaning to the parents or, ultimately, the grown-up baby.
If you have a middle name you love - you are lucky. Many of us are not over-keen on that middle name, and we may be glad to simply forget it exists.
For others, however, a middle name can be quite useful; we can employ it if our circumstances take a drastic turn and we need a new identity. Or we can use it instead of our first name, which we have come to detest!
So you see - the business of choosing a baby middle name is quite complex. And the annoying thing is, even though it may seem logical to just not bother choosing a middle name in the first place, people do - and will - tend to ask:
"What's her middle name?"
To which you as a parent will reply...
"Oh, she doesn't have one"
to which you will hear...
"Oh, what a shame!"
And this conversation is guaranteed to take place many times during the course of your child's life.
More reasons why you should give your baby a middle name. Think security. Think
credit cards
passports
form filling...
and all things bureaucratic!
Need some more suggestions?
A middle name will distinguish your child from all the other children bearing the same first and last name as your baby. Your baby's name will have that extra initial to be penned into the box or to be moulded onto that credit card.
And, looking on the bright side, if your baby becomes a famous author, what could be more fashionable than having two initials in front of the last name?
Baby middle names can be either a necessary evil or a chance to make good on a name that, so far, really isn't that good. But maybe that's a rather negative way to look at it.
Perhaps it's best to view it as an opportunity to make your baby's name even better - with more personality and containing an extra flavor that it wouldn't otherwise enjoy.
Tips for choosing a baby middle name
Use a family name. You might like to choose a middle name honoring a member of your family - one of the baby's grandparents, maybe.
The only problem here is that any other grandparents may feel jealous. So a little diplomacy may be in order if you decide to do this!
Using a baby middle name originating from further back in your family tree might be an interesting choice. In fact, even if you know very little about your ancestry, older family members might have some nuggets of information - as well as name ideas - that would give you a suitable name with a family connection.
Another suggestion here - how about a baby middle name that takes its inspiration from a family surname?
Make it fit. Choose a baby middle name that contrasts with AND complements the names surrounding it. If the first name is a popular name, choose something a little more out of the ordinary. Try thinking about exotic middle names!
And of course, if your baby's first name is an exotic or unusual baby name - maybe something a little more everyday will suit.
In either case, try to choose a name that means something to yourself - and then you will be able to explain, when asked in the future, why you chose that particular name.
Choose a baby middle name that has rhythm! It may have more or less syllables than the first name. The only way to find out if a name SOUNDS good is if you say all three names (if you're sticking to three) OUT LOUD.
Watch those initials. Not only the initials for the first and last name! If you're choosing a middle name, check out any weird words that might crop up in a trio of initials: You don't want to end up with an "acronym baby" called IBM or BMW - do you? Or, even worse, a baby whose three initials spell a word that would make anyone feel uncomfortable.
Try something popular. If you're really stuck for a middle name for your baby, why not try a selction of middle names from the top 100 baby names? You may find just the name you're looking for!
Go traditional Peruse my list of baby middle names that will be familiar to parents and grandparents alike. 20th Century here we come!
Good luck with your choice of baby middle name. It's a tricky issue for many parents - so start thinking about it now! You won't regret it - and, with enough thought and care - neither will your baby!
