Do we really need a middle name for the baby?

Florr18

Probably a silly question here but I cannot decide...I am debating with my husband if a middle name is necesarry for our baby boy. I personally come from a country where middle names are not too common, although they do exist. My baby is going to be born in America and will live here though. Would it be "too different " to not have a  middle name? You ladies that are from US , what do you think?

SheenaNash1

I don't think anyone else will care whether your child has no middle name, one middle name, or more than one. Do whats best for you and your family.

bonez1219

I really dont think it would be "too different" if you choose not to give him a middle name. I dont think the subject will come up that much throughout his lifetime. These days people are giving their children wierd names such as Pilot Inspektor & Kyd lol so I wouldnt worry about it too much. Do whatever it is that you want, its your baby!!  

etoussa

DH and I don't have middle names. DS does and this baby boy will have one as well. It's up to you and your DH.

katokc1

I like them and I think they are great for when baby get's in trouble.  That is the only time I utilize the middle name.  For example, I have an 11 year old daugher whose name is Madelaine Jean....she is known as Maddie on a daily basis, except when she gets into trouble...then it's  "Madelaine Jean, get your ass in here,".  She knows when I use her middle name I mean business. 

I'm pregnant with our second and my husband is also from another country.  It's pretty customary in his country to use the middle name as the first name (which to me is just dumb).  So now we are having the discussion about this baby's name.  Her name will be Kennedei Madison.  He wants to call her Madison.  I'm like no, her name is Kennedei, and we are not using her middle name except for when she is in trouble, the same as we do for Maddie. 

Anyways, that is just my two cents.  Ha, Ha....   

 

 

mexicolombiana

My brother and I grew up w/out one and we're alive and well and none of our kids will have a middle name.  I think they'll be fine too

lulling

Nope.  I was born with no middle name.  When I turned 18 I got to pick my own.  It was really cool.  

treble_clef

I don't think you need one if you don't care about it.  I didn't have one until I got married, and my maiden name because my middle name, which I hardly use any more.

However, my son uses his middle name quite a bit.  He goes to 3 different preschools in 3 different languages.  His middle name is cultural, and he goes by his middle name in one of the schools. 

greeneyed_bride

In high school, I had a friend who only had a middle initial. Her first and last names were both really long, and her parents thought that adding a middle name would be too much, so she just had the middle initial "L" instead of a middle name. So that's always an option, too.

JLG95

I'm always against doing things that will make my child stand out from his peers.  Most American kids have middle names. 

And from a practical standpoint, it will help distinguish him from other kids.  Most of us have known people with the same first and last name, but different middle names, think:

Heather Smith

Jennifer Brown

William Johnson

PickyNikki

My dad does not have a middle name. I'm not sure how he feels about, but we always used to get mail addressed to James A. [Last name]. Not sure if the pulled A as the first letter of the alphabet, or if it's because my mom's middle name is Ann. I always thought it was weird, and it would bother me having things addressed to me that way.

526SadieSadie

I don't think it's a big deal at all.  The only thing to consider if is the baby will have the same first name as you or your DH.  It will get really confusing when s/he is older, with mail and insurance and all kinds of stuff like that.  Otherwise you're fine without one.

SGreen0985

I agree with other posters, its completely up to you. However, I like middle names. It might be a nice opportunity to pay tribute to a relative by using their name as a middle name for your baby. Also in middle school I had a friend who hated her first name. She got everyone (students, teachers, ect.) to call her by her middle name. Not saying your son won't like his first name, but it's something to think about. :-)

megs2011

::butting in::

In DH family they have a tradition of keeping his first name running (John). My John is the 5th. He has decided that if we have a boy, he will also be named John (I wanted to do John for a middle name.. he won't have that though). So the middle name is the way to distinguish for us and others. And the last name is just as common as the first. Just my experience.

::butting out::

sunnyday016

I don't think it's that weird. I have a good friend that doesn't have a middle name and it's never bothered her to not have one. They aren't really necessary.

loupac

i know several people without middle names...

StephCripps

loupac:

i know several people without middle names...

but a few of the people i know who dont' have a middle name..they always kinda felt left out cause they don't have one..

thought i'd throw that in there