Unique or common MN?

futurestaples

Would you personally rather have a unique/ different middle name or one that is common and used frequently? By unique and different I don't mean bizarre or off the wall either, just not the typical filler middle names =]

Zimger

We use family names as mn.

I think the mn spot is rather flexible. I wouldn't side eye a unique mn even if it was a off the wall. 

Whitterpow

I think one of each for me. So if the first name is common I want to try to find a less common mn. I wish I could find a family name, but my choices are things like Merle.

SpruceGrouse

We used a family name but I also like to hear stories behind different or unusual middle names. I think middle names are where you can be fun if you like that sort of thing.

==N==

I use family names as well so it could be either.

DanandVan

I really don't pay attention to popularity, especially with middle names. I am more concerned with overall flow - which name sounds best. If it happens to be a family name, then bonus!

kaylynne

I have an extremely common first name and a fairly unique middle name (I've only ever met one other person, and they didn't spell it the same way).  Honestly, the middle name doesn't come up that often, and when it does people are like, "oh, that's nice."  I kept it after I got married (instead of making my maiden my middle) because I like it, but it's not something I think about regularly. 

I think how common a name is only matters for the name you are actually going to go by.

ho11yday

We use the first initial of the father's MN as the first initial in our children's MN. And because my DH's MN starts with F, the MN's for our children seem to be less common and more unique.  All of the MN options we have floated around have not been in the top 1000 in the last 20 years (and most are family names).

If you are just going to put a filler MN, then why not go without a MN in the first place? 

Keri Marie

Uncommon.

Unique is an abstract term on this board and people make it mean anything they want.

 

Our kids each have a family name from my side of the family since they all have their dad's last name. 

CMSAV

we use family names for MNs, but if we didn't I'd choose something unique and meaningful

nearly_klo

I think anything non offensive goes in the middle name stakes. I like family names personally, but that said we picked a super uncommon family MN for dd 2 and everyone on both sides loves it.

gnomemom

I like one of each. The mn spot can be where it's okay to get really creative. I think name flow is the most important, though.

I thought we would go with something more unique for DS, but Alexander just felt and sounded right, so we went with something common.

brookelynpaisley

Is there a third choice? I'd go for meaningful. I like family MNs, but I'm not personally a fan of surnames.

this decaf life

I love unique middle names. We used Clementine for DD because I wasn't gutsy enough to use it as her FN.

Cranang

Unique, but not "youneek".  If I hear one more kid with the middle name "Grace" I'm going to scream. 

My first daughter's MN was in honor of my dad...his middle name was "Leon" but that was what he went by.  So we went with "Noelle".  Sabrina's MN was just a name we loved.  We were going to use Corinne as her first name, but fell in love with the "Sabrina Corinne" combo.  So it's a "unique" middle name, as in not a lot of people have it, but it's not some sort of out there name that no one has ever heard.