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HelpRe: Honoring names?
in reply to a message by Ninor
Names that refer to someone or something (like they're the name of an ancestor or a saint or place or idea), are the best middle names IMO. Even if a middle name is only for the sake of a joke, if others can get the joke then it's better than "I just liked it, it sounded nice with Firstname." If the name just pleases the parent, then that (plus filling a space) is its only purpose - and I dunno about you but I don't want to bear an extra name that was about my parent's preference in names and nothing else. It's not decor. Mom's taste has nothing to do with me at all. Of course a first name reflects who your parents are, but a middle name is an opportunity to add more meaning, and connect the kid to something more. A middle name with a story is better than one without. IMO.
Which is better:
"What's your middle name?"
"Alistair"
"Why Alistair? Is that a family name?"
"No. My mom just liked it"
"What's your middle name?"
"Alistair"
"Why Alistair? Is that a family name?"
"Yes, it's a family name"
YMMV but I hate giving the "mom liked it" answer. Even "No, my mom named me after her favorite book character" is better than "My mom just thought it sounded good."
So I think I'd only use an "I just like it" middle name, if the first name was honoring. Because then it can be a personal gift from me that is missing from the copycatted first name.
My daughter's MN is a name I really like, that I wasn't enthusing about using as a first name (Claudia), and I chose it instead of my second-favorite name because it refers to my grandfather (Claud). My son's MN is my deceased father's FN (which I don't particularly like aesthetically, and it was a name my grandma "just liked"! but it meant a lot to me to honor his memory). I considered using "sounds good" middles for my daughter but it just felt so lame to me.
- mirfak
Which is better:
"What's your middle name?"
"Alistair"
"Why Alistair? Is that a family name?"
"No. My mom just liked it"
"What's your middle name?"
"Alistair"
"Why Alistair? Is that a family name?"
"Yes, it's a family name"
YMMV but I hate giving the "mom liked it" answer. Even "No, my mom named me after her favorite book character" is better than "My mom just thought it sounded good."
So I think I'd only use an "I just like it" middle name, if the first name was honoring. Because then it can be a personal gift from me that is missing from the copycatted first name.
My daughter's MN is a name I really like, that I wasn't enthusing about using as a first name (Claudia), and I chose it instead of my second-favorite name because it refers to my grandfather (Claud). My son's MN is my deceased father's FN (which I don't particularly like aesthetically, and it was a name my grandma "just liked"! but it meant a lot to me to honor his memory). I considered using "sounds good" middles for my daughter but it just felt so lame to me.
- mirfak
This message was edited 9/20/2018, 10:11 AM
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