No MN anyone?

Smootchy

I've known people with no middle name. What's your take?

Just found out we're pregnant today and I already have my boy/girl name from the list from last go around... I'm set on the girl. But I don't have a middle name for a boy... Thinking of just not having one.

WDYT?

HappyMrsK

I think it's fine. I've known a couple of people with no mn and they seemed to turn out just fine.

hsm

My DH doesn't have a middle name. My son, who is named after him, doesn't have one either. Obviously we think it is fine.

HannahO28

I think it's a bit odd, but people do it all the time and survive. Have you considered using family names for the MN? Or something special to you as a couple? 

Smootchy

HannahO28:

I think it's a bit odd, but people do it all the time and survive. Have you considered using family names for the MN? Or something special to you as a couple? 

both names I have in mind are family names. Agreeing on our first child's name was a chore... I'm sure something will come to us. But if not, no middle won't kill him. (or it could be a girl, in which case this post wouldn't even matter because we're all set there)

Smootchy

HannahO28:

I think it's a bit odd, but people do it all the time and survive. Have you considered using family names for the MN? Or something special to you as a couple? 

both names I have in mind are family names. Agreeing on our first child's name was a chore... I'm sure something will come to us. But if not, no middle won't kill him. (or it could be a girl, in which case this post wouldn't even matter because we're all set there)

SarahPLiz

DH doesn't have a middle name, and neither does one of my best friends from childhood. I don't see how it was detrimental to either of them.

lisa5201

If you have a super common name (John Smith, Annie Jones) I think it's important just simply for identity purposes. Even if your name isn't THAT common, I would still think it might be helpful to have a middle name to further differentiate from others with the same name (although having no middle name might be the difference....)

I do hate "filler" middle names that are used just because. For me, it's important that my kid's middle names have importance (dd's mn, Ro, is for my late gmom). *shrug* I am a super name nerd though

guilletskichuk

lisa5201:

If you have a super common name (John Smith, Annie Jones) I think it's important just simply for identity purposes. Even if your name isn't THAT common, I would still think it might be helpful to have a middle name to further differentiate from others with the same name (although having no middle name might be the difference....)

I do hate "filler" middle names that are used just because. For me, it's important that my kid's middle names have importance (dd's mn, Ro, is for my late gmom). *shrug* I am a super name nerd though

I agree with ALL of this.

As someone who DIDN'T have a common surname, it was still somewhat problematic and confusing because there is someone else with my name (similar in age with similar educational aspirations; she is a distant cousin of mine, actually). I think middle names can be very practical for identification purposes.

Also, do you have a mn for your first child? If so, I would suggest you give the new babe a mn too. I have a few friends who haven't had a mn and felt a bit left out in relation to their siblings who DID have a mn. 

karen_loy

neither I or DH have a mn and have never had a problem with it

we didn't give DS a mn, either

melody921

Even though I rarely use my MN, it feels incomplete to me to not have one. I say go back to the baby name book and find something.

526SadieSadie

The only negative I can see is in the case of a father and son with the same first name (when the Sr. or Jr. isn't an official part of the name).  I'll explain:

I worked for a lawyer named Bob Chester.  Bob's son was also Bob Chester, not Bob Jr.  Their family called them Big Bob and Little Bob (Little Bob is in his 20's).  Little Bob was in a car accident and Big Bob called the insurance company and things got majorly screwed up.  The insurance agent put the accident information on Big Bob's car instead of Little Bob, so Big Bob's rate went up and an adjuster didn't go to review the damage on Little Bob's car.  It was a mess.

That was my two cents.  It's a long shot that it would cause someone else a problem, but one simple middle initial could have cleared up a whole buttload of headaches.

rubber_chicken

neither I nor my husband have middle names.  they're pretty much useless.