Grace. James. Marie. Rose. These names mark some of the most popular middle names of the 2010s, names that defined an entire generation in the middle slot. Whilst we lack an official tally of middle name popularity, given that some people don’t have a middle name, it’s very evident which middle names were popular when. Just go asking around! One of my favorite things to ask about someone when I’m trying to get to know them is what their middle name is. That may seem a bit strange, but it’s a lovely discussion point and allows you to get a sense for middle names in various generations. Ann, Elizabeth, Michael, William. Lee, Jane, Lynn, Nicole. And of course all of the above options are still in rampant use. Middle names stay in style far longer than their first name counterparts. So what are the middle names that will define the next decade or so? Well, I have some ideas. Here are my top three candidates!
Pearl
In my opinion, Pearl is a name to watch. She’s the perfect choice for a middle name, particularly for a girl. She doesn’t end in -a, as you will notice barely any successful middle names do (primarily because of the popularity of -a ending names. Olivia Eleanora, Emma Svetlana, and Amelia Alainah don’t have the smoothness of, say, Olivia Iris, Emma Annette, and Amelia Kendall. You may have noticed how the -a ending of Emma and the A beginning of Annette ran together in that combination. Well, Pearl dodges that bullet quite effortlessly as well. I know very few little girl names or unisex name or any names, really, that end in -p. Try it. There’s Calliope (who only kinda counts.) There’s Zeynep, a stunning Turkish name. Bishop, but I wouldn’t put two word names together like that anyway. Tulip, but she’s just the same as Bishop. That’s pretty much all I can think of off the top of my head, and I doubt parents who get millions of names to choose from would go right for one of these. Pearl has a gemstone touch, giving her the ability not only to honor anybody born in June, so you don’t have to fret about naming your little girl after granny Bertha, and the stylistic benefits of stunning imagery and backup from trendy sister Ruby. Top it off with a foolproof one-syllable style, beautiful short and sweet like Claire Pearl or long and elaborate like Victoria Pearl. And I’ve been seeing more of Pearl in birth announcements, particularly in the middle spot, on naming forums lately, so I’m not imagining her success so far!
Dove
A name that fits with the surge of nature names that flood forums, preschools, and playgrounds, Dove keeps things short and sweet with a single syllable like Pearl and that same tailored aspect that keeps her perfect for a middle name. Doves are symbols of hope and promise as well as peace, making Dove’s connotations positively perfect for your little girl. Dove is a name that feel angelic and sweet, and, of course, I have to mention that glorious middle V. But think about it. Would a little Riley Sophia or a Riley Evelynn catch your eye? Would Avery Violet take down Willow Scarlett? For most parents, the option with the middle V is the most appealing sound-wise, separating the names from style. In addition, Love is the only other name that rhymes with Dove, making it a pretty safe bet as a versatile choice, and Dove’s D beginning sound only contradicts a couple combos. Holland Dove, Astrid Dove, Rosamund/Rosalind Dove, and a couple others that have escaped my mind wouldn’t sound fantastic, but for the most part, Dove feels like she’d pair effortlessly with most names, including the ones at the top of the charts. Isabella Dove...ahhh, so lovely. Dove is all cuteness until that middle V throws in some sass, the perfect blend of spunk and sweetness. All Dove needs is a little catalyst to throw her into mainstream middle name popularity. Will Katy Perry’s little one Daisy Dove be that catalyst? Perhaps, but we’ll have to see how it plays out!
Mae
Jovial, adorable, and perky, Mae feels just as springy as the month she sounds just like. Another lovely honor name very obviously for a special someone born in the month of May, Mae is a much more achievable new filler middle than the above choices. I would say that although she isn’t incredibly popular as a middle name, she definitely doesn’t have as far to go as her other candidates above. Mae is pretty much compatible with everything. If you’re going for gothic vibes, maybe try something a little different. Anastasia Ebony, perhaps. Otherwise, Mae suits an array of potential vibes you may look for in the name of your little girl. If you want a touch of vintage, Tessa Mae works beautifully. If you wish for a name that is just dripping with sweetness, Josie Mae does the job flawlessly. If you desire a classic name, Abigail Mae fits the bill. Anything Mae touches gets just the slightest bit brighter, and that’s a quality that many parents adore. Unfortunately, Mae does run into the endings of a suitable amount of girl names, some including Taytum, Miriam, and Kim, making her slightly less applicable for everyone. Also, she is a word name, so Rain Mae, Juniper Mae, and River Mae are definitely out, along with a wide variety of others, particularly given the presence of nature names and other word names on many parent’s lists today. These limitations are most certainly keeping Mae from becoming the it girl middle name wise, but she could still dominate, depending on the sounds of upcoming first name trends.
Favorite Combos
Seraphina Pearl
Alice Pearl
Everly Dove
Ainsley Dove
Bella Mae
Emilia Mae
Thank you so much for reading, Name Warehouse! I hope you enjoyed, and perhaps have developed your own ideas about what middle names will define these next few years. If so, feel free to leave those below in the comments section, and have a lovely rest of your day.
Sincerely,
-Delphina Moon