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HelpRe: Thoughts on the number of names
in reply to a message by TheArtemisMoon
I think it totally depends on the family dynamic.
When I was younger, I planned to use only one name (plus surname) because I just like simple things.
My husband only has one name, so I thought my plan would work. However, He wanted to use a traditional Filipino name and I wanted to use honoring names. THEN, we found out we were having a girl and in the Philippines, it is custom to use the mother's maiden name as a second name for the child for girls.
So, we compromised with a pattern: One name we both like, one Filipino name of husband's choosing, and one honoring name, then surname. So, both of our daughters will have three names.
I personally still love the simplicity of one name and a surname, but I appreciate significance of having more. I would never arbitrarily choose a non-significant middle name though (personal choice).
Plus, I don't think that the number of names needs to be consistent for every child either. A friend of mine used three names for her son because they honored, and two names for her daughter (neither of which were honoring).
In my experience, I have noticed that Americans tend to have a first and middle, Europeans lean towards two middle names and most Asian cultures omit the middle name altogether, OR they have a middle name but use their first and middle as a whole. That's not exclusive, just a pattern I noticed.
______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
When I was younger, I planned to use only one name (plus surname) because I just like simple things.
My husband only has one name, so I thought my plan would work. However, He wanted to use a traditional Filipino name and I wanted to use honoring names. THEN, we found out we were having a girl and in the Philippines, it is custom to use the mother's maiden name as a second name for the child for girls.
So, we compromised with a pattern: One name we both like, one Filipino name of husband's choosing, and one honoring name, then surname. So, both of our daughters will have three names.
I personally still love the simplicity of one name and a surname, but I appreciate significance of having more. I would never arbitrarily choose a non-significant middle name though (personal choice).
Plus, I don't think that the number of names needs to be consistent for every child either. A friend of mine used three names for her son because they honored, and two names for her daughter (neither of which were honoring).
In my experience, I have noticed that Americans tend to have a first and middle, Europeans lean towards two middle names and most Asian cultures omit the middle name altogether, OR they have a middle name but use their first and middle as a whole. That's not exclusive, just a pattern I noticed.
______________________________________________
"How wonderful it is that no one need wait a single moment before starting to improve upon the world." -Ann Frank
Mama to my "bright star" Clarisse Bituin and Wife to Julius. Mahal na mahal from our little family to yours!
This message was edited 7/29/2015, 7:14 AM
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