Middle names...

trojas

I love middle names. I have one, and even though I don't use it, I use my middle initial- lol. My DH thinks middle names are useless. 

What's your take on middle names? 

EmmyPumpkin

Middle names may seem useless, but really, they act to differentiate this "John Smith" from that "John Smith". Especially in administrative or legal situations. 

For instance, 'John Jacob Smith' is easily identified as a different person from, say, "John Walter Smith". Otherwise, the person is only differentiated by... what? Their social security/insurance number? Terrible. 

Also, middle names can be a great opportunity for a commemorative or unique name.

 

drbethc

I think middle names are needed especially if your LO has a common name or even a common last name. Although, I had a uncommon last name, after getting married, my first name and last name became common, and thank goodness for my middle initial because, my name is pretty common now and when publish journal articles, the middle initial in my name is what differentiates me...

dragossoul84

I like middle names I think they give you a chance to round out the whole name

GreenMonkey1

I like middle names.  We'll be using DH's first name as the middle name for a boy - that was our compromise for not using the legacy name.  

Do middle names have a point?  I suppose to further differentiate people from each other - I work at a university and it's useful to have middle names when I have to search for a student in the student info system.  Some people use middle names to honor a family member - my middle name is my godmother's first name.  My good friend just had a baby and used her DH's grandmother's first name as the middle name - grandmother passed shortly before the baby's birth.

dreambig527

I grew up without a middle name.  It's a PAIN in the neck!!  Every "official" document wants your middle inital.  Trying to explain to people that this really is my full name is a pain, and well its just all around annoying.

At the very least, give your kid a middle initial.

writerinNYC

My first name was in the top 10 the decade I was born. I hated it so much, I started going by my more unique middle name in college. I am grateful I had that option. 

Therefore, I think middle names are super important and I plan to give my child two names I love, so she has the option to use either.