Baby Going By Middle Name?

careauxlina10t · August 2015

Our boy name is William Sawyer, with William being a family name. Knowing William is common and loving the name Sawyer, what are your thoughts on a child going by their middle name? Too confusing or not that big of a deal?

ashleyandely · August 2015

Not a big deal, I know quite a few people who do this, especially if the first name is a family name.

parenthood4 · August 2015

I think it would be a pain I wouldn't want to deal with it, and I wouldn't saddle my kid with it

Sawyer William flows as well as William Sawyer does to me, so I would just use the first name that you want him to go by

eliztheforrizz · August 2015

I grew up going by my middle name (first name is the same as my mom's and my parents always intended me to go by my middle) and I can tell you it was VERY difficult. I had teachers who refused flat out to refer to me by my middle name and many more who would constantly forget and go by what was on their roll call. Doctors can never remember even if I have been going to them for years, because they just go off what's on the chart. Honestly, if I wasn't named after my mom (which I actually love because we are very kindred and it makes me feel closer to her) I would have changed my first name to my middle as soon as I could, but I love being her namesake too much to do so. So while it hasn't ruined my life by any means, it has definitely made things a lot more challenging. Just my two cents.

Elsa1984 · August 2015

If you are planning on calling him Sawyer, use Sawyer William.

HayleyJ5215 · August 2015

My DH is named after his dad, however he goes by nn of his middle name. Everyone knows him as Billy but his fn is Michael. Man, people were so confused when we sent out wedding invitations

I love the name Sawyer.

MamaWren919 · August 2015

Too confusing. It just makes things harder for no reason. Just use Sawyer William.

helleebellee · August 2015

It's a pain. My husband and DS1 go by their middle names and I'll never allow it again.

Iznik · August 2015

I have also always gone by my middle name and it's horrendously annoying. While I like the way my full name sounds and I do prefer my middle name, it is one giant pain in the A. It's one thing if a person decides on their own to go by their middle name at some point, but based on my experience, it's cruel and unusual and I'd NEVER do it to my child.

4N6s · August 2015

Just use sawyer William..

valeriemarie24 · August 2015

I agree with PPs. While sawyer is not my favourite name in the world, if that is what you want to call him then just name him that.
I think it also largely depends on the child. If you name him William sawyer but he decides he doesn't like being called sawyer, that could throw a wrench in your plan to use his middle name as a name.

xxdove · August 2015

I think if there is a real reason for using William as his first name, like he's being named after someone special to you... then yeah, use William Sawyer. It'll make life a little
more annoying for him but he will hopefully appreciate being named after someone special.

But really, unless it means that much to you to use William as the fn, just name him Sawyer William and be done with it.

Linsbins · August 2015

I don't understand why you wouldn't name your child with the name you want to call him. Sawyer is a good name, it's not like it's super weird and he wouldn't want it on a job application.

CaboBride2015 · August 2015

I'm not a fan of Sawyer. I'd stick with William and find another way to address him, it's a great name. Will, Willie, Bill, Liam, Jr

careauxlina10t · August 2015

Thanks for the insight. They're both family names, however William has a much stronger lineage on both sides, hence really wanting to use it first with the caveat that we already have a family full of William, Bills, Wills, Billy's etc.

Baby Going By Middle Name?

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