Middle Name Question

OpheliaChem

What are your thoughts?

If LO is a boy, his middle name will be Charles. Charles is my brother's MN, my mom's maiden name, and of course my maternal grandparents last name. However, if we have a girl, I can't think of a good way to make "Charles" a MN. So I'm considering just using Charles as a little girl's MN. Is this weird? Granted, it wouldn't be her first name and most people wouldn't know what her MN is, but would you think its strange for a girl to have a male MN, even if the name is really a family (maiden) name?

TristaD81

What about Charlotte? I don't think Charles is weird for a girl in the mn spot. I mean, how often do you actually use the mn anyway. It's got a strong meaning to you, so I would go for it. It's not like youre arbitrarily giving your LO a masculine mn.

ShoeFanatic614

I think it's perfectly fine to use it for a MN considering the family significance. But I would give her a very feminine FN so there was no question she was a girl.

aislinsmom

We are also going with a boy's MN for a girl. Ryla Jeffrey, after my brother who was killed in a house fire. I think if the name has special significance for you, there is nothing wrong with using it.

OpheliaChem

ShoeFanatic614:

I think it's perfectly fine to use it for a MN considering the family significance. But I would give her a very feminine FN so there was no question she was a girl.

I definitely agree! And there is no question we would use a feminine name. Right now, I'm thinking about Vivian. I also like Nola, Violet (although that doesn't go with our last name), and Eleanor. 

daileym

I tend to not judge middle names because a lot of times they have a story behind them, so I don't think it's weird at all. 

Paturkey

I think Charles is totally fine! But you could also switch it up like pp mentioned with Charlotte or Charlene. I like Charles, though.

JLMcWeeney

I have seen the name charlie for a girl a lot lately. You could use that for the middle name. It is more feminine that Charles, but it still close. I wouldn't want such a masculine name such as Charles for a girl. Even on a middle name.

ShoeFanatic614

OpheliaChem:

ShoeFanatic614:

I think it's perfectly fine to use it for a MN considering the family significance. But I would give her a very feminine FN so there was no question she was a girl.

I definitely agree! And there is no question we would use a feminine name. Right now, I'm thinking about Vivian. I also like Nola, Violet (although that doesn't go with our last name), and Eleanor. 

Aah! Vivian is my current number 1 girl name for this LO too! I just need to get DH on board with me. We considered Eleanor for DD but ended up with just Norah. Great names!

tbw8664

Charlotte for sure or even Charlie for a girls first name I think is adorable. We are using the middle name Elaine my mothers middle name for a girl and Eastman my DH's grandfathers first name for our boys middle name. If we have 2 boys or 2 girls we need to think of one more girl name and one more boy name. Right now we have chosen Lillian Elaine and Carter Eastman.

kat81again2

I don't think it's a big deal but she might. My mom's middle name growing up was Travis for the exact same reason. It was her mom's maiden name. She kind of hated it. Eventually she dropped her middle name to make her maiden name her middle name and take my dad's last name. 

I don't think anyone ever made fun of her for having a boy's middle name but she said she just didn't like it. 

aesf

junewife:

Since it's a middle name I don't think it's that big of a deal. nbsp;Side note, Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles I think.nbsp;

Charles and Charlotte and caroll are all derivatives Carolus from the Latin. True story.

aesf

junewife:

Since it's a middle name I don't think it's that big of a deal. nbsp;Side note, Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles I think.nbsp;

Charles and Charlotte and caroll are all derivatives Carolus from the Latin. True story.

I know this because my late MIL was a carol. I'm not a huge fan of the name Carol so I did a lot of research on the name so we could honor her with something I'd be happy with.

Long story short, you are right and so is Carol m/f

1026pumpkin

I think it's totally fine to use in the middle name spot.  If I saw it, I would assume it was the mother's maiden name or a family name of some sort.  I know a lot of people that use the mother's maiden name as a middle name rather than having a hyphenated last name.

If the first name you end up deciding on is one where it could be used together with the middle name (like Mary Sue), then maybe I would consider using something like Charlene, Charlotte, or Charlie...but the first names you're considering are beautiful and perfect stand-alone names. 

jjkaye

I like it and think it's very cool to pick a middle name with meaning over something that "sounds girly." I think it's pretty common for last names to be used as middle names- one whole side of my family has the middle name "Froiland" for all of their girls, because they didn't think they would have anyone to continue the family name.

NicknShan

aesf:

junewife:

Since it's a middle name I don't think it's that big of a deal. nbsp;Side note, Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles I think.nbsp;

Charles and Charlotte and caroll are all derivatives Carolus from the Latin. True story.

 

Maybe you could use Carolus?  That is quite unique... 

psychgirl33

I'm of the "no one uses the middle name so who cares" camp.  So I'd say use whatever name you want.  But Charlotte is pretty close.  Or you could use Charlie, which is less masculine than Charles, if you're worried about it.

Bagwells31012

I think Charles is a fine name for a girls middle name

OpheliaChem

kat81again2:

I don't think it's a big deal but she might. My mom's middle name growing up was Travis for the exact same reason. It was her mom's maiden name. She kind of hated it. Eventually she dropped her middle name to make her maiden name her middle name and take my dad's last name. 

I don't think anyone ever made fun of her for having a boy's middle name but she said she just didn't like it. 

This is one of my reasons for hesitating on the name. I don't want her to get made fun of or not like her name. If only I could see into the future and know for sure!

OpheliaChem

aesf:

junewife:

Since it's a middle name I don't think it's that big of a deal. nbsp;Side note, Charlotte is the feminine version of Charles I think.nbsp;

Charles and Charlotte and caroll are all derivatives Carolus from the Latin. True story.

Cool! I've never heard of Carolus. I like the name Charlotte but not as a middle name. And Charlie doesn't sound right IMO as a MN. But Carolus sounds sort of neat! Thanks :-) I will definitely add that to the list!!! 

soon2bcorrea

I like Charlotte or maybe Charla???

Surfergirl013

I love "boy names" for girls:)  I love Charles as a mn with Vivian...)

DanaColeman

I am using my brother's name as a middle name if we have a girl. He was seven when he died, and that was the year before I was born. So my mom made my middle name Danielle, after Daniel. I want to do something after him if we have a girl so we are going with Avery Danni for a girl.

JAYA09

I went to school with a girl named Charlsey... Granted she hated her name and went by Charlie, as a middle name it might work.

I agree with most others.  It's her middle name, and it has significance to your family, so go for it.