There’s a new middle name trend going around, and that’s multiple middle names. While there are stars that have taken this recent style to the extremes (ahem...Uma Thurman and her daughter Luna: short for Rosalind Arusha Arkadina Altalune Florence Thurman-Busson), most people are sticking to a two middle max. But is the extra middle name a unique and cool choice, or a complication and a burden for a child? Today, I’m reviewing the pros and cons of including a second middle name on the birth certificate to determine whether or not the rewards of having a second middle name outweigh the struggles.
Pros
There may be thousands of Ava Maries out there, but add another middle name, and your Ava Victoria Marie is more likely to be the only one. If you're looking to put a sparkle of individuality into a combo that sounds a little common or drab for your liking, a second middle name differentiates your child and makes the name sound a bit more unique. If a distinct moniker is important to you, but your favorite names aren’t exactly obscure, putting three popular names together to create a first name and two middles gives you a more unique name without forsaking your style preferences.
Another upside to choosing two middle names is having the opportunity to honor two sides of the family. If your mother-in-law’s name is Cynthia, and your mother’s name is Dawn, two middle names allow you to choose both, instead of putting a name that doesn’t align with your naming style in the first name spot. Mothers, fathers, siblings, or the parents themselves can all be honored in one baby's name without occupying the first name with a double middle name, preventing possible family drama when only one of the mothers or siblings gets a baby named after them.
One of the biggest perks of going the multiple middle route is the ability for a second middle to counteract or balance out two choices of a similar style. Zenobia Philomena is sweet, but adding in Rose in between the two would tame the combination down a bit and give the child a name to fall back on if she grows up and doesn’t fit the dramatic personality her name suggests. Same goes for a pairing like Elliot James for a daughter. Adding in a more femenine selection like Aurora in the middle of the two more unisex or masculine names can ensure that her name still reflects a very feminine child. With a double middle name, you can use a first and middle name of your favorite style but add in a “safety” name in case your child doesn’t fit the name or the name needs a little balancing out.
Cons
My main concern with the trend of giving your child multiple middles is length. Even though most people steer clear of going the Uma Thurman way, even two middle names can be much too long. For instance, Seraphina Artemis Rodriguez. Beautiful. Seraphina Artemis Rodriguez-Hernandez. A bit long, sure, but hey, it’ll pass. Seraphina Artemis Adeline Rodriguez-Hernandez. That has definitely crossed the line for me in terms of length, at a whopping 16 syllables and 41 letters. Say it out loud, and I’m sure you’ll find the same issue. We’re used to hearing three names: Seraphina Artemis Rodriguez, so double middles in theory sound nice when spoken without the last name. Three names sound complete, so Seraphina Artemis Adeline sounds just the right length when said or toyed with. But when you add one or two last names, you get a name that spirals on and on, and that brings me to my next point.
Every time you fill out forms for the doctor’s office, school, or sports, there’s more that you need to write. Even if you don’t mind having to write more, your child might find it annoying or a bother to have 41 letters to write out, while Ada Mae Wu only has 8. Not only do long names get tiresome after years of signing forms and letters, the added initials also exclude your child from being able to get monogram backpacks, suitcases, lunchboxes, and other customizable merchandise that their peers may have. Of course, that’s not to say that hyphenated surnames are bad. In fact, hyphenated surnames reflect the culture and history of both parents in a child’s name, which is a lovely connection. However, it is important to keep in mind that you may want a deep connection to an extra middle name because it will make the name more complex for your child in the future. An extra middle name just for style may be more trouble than it’s worth.
Final Thoughts:
Oh the fun I have coming up with elegant and captivating double middle combos… and yes, I have had myself many a delightful time creating the likes of Eloise Winslet Halo, Aurelian Fox Percival, and Persephone Sage Lagoon. But the reality as I see it? Multiple middle names aren’t really a suitable option for most people and often ruin the flow of a gorgeous name. More isn’t always better. Persephone Sage and Eloise Winslet are gorgeous apart from the second middle, and Aurelian Fox is a showstopper how he is. In conclusion, double middles are super fun to create, but often not so functional in a real life setting. However, I can definitely see how fun and potentially meaningful this trend can be for those that choose to follow it.
Sincerely,
~Delphina Moon
Do you agree with me? What’s your favorite double middle name combo?