Two middle names??

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Two middle names??
6
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 10:53am
Hi everyone. I have to say thank you because a while back it was all of you that actually helped us come up with a first name for #4 who is due next wk. We are going with Ethan Patrick with Patrick being my grandfathers name I am feeling badly about leaving DH's grandfather out. Does Ethan Patrick John L...(one syllable very short last name)sound ok? Do you go with just a P for a middle initial or are you supposed to use all four? Do you hyphenate the two middle names? Thanks for any help. Gail w/ Noah, Alison, & Julia
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-01-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 12:02pm

I personally don't like double middle names. It disrupts the flow, the extra name is unnecessary and cumbersome.

you just can't honor every family member. trying to just makes things worse.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-04-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 12:25pm

I see nothing wrong with two middle names as a whole, I have two middles, so do my kids (and my siblings and SO as well). I find the extra middle name acts as an extra identifier, especially if you have a common as heck surname. With the world population growing in leaps and bounds, that extra identifier can't hurt any! We generally only use the second middle for legal stuff and just go by first name, first middle, surname on a day to day basis. No hyphens, just three names. It's no big deal, really.

Now onto your son:
Ethan Patrick is gorgeous and I love John as a name but don't think the three names flow well together. Moreso if your last name has the same 'o' sound as John in it. I'd probably change Ethan out for John (or a form of it.. Ian strikes me paired with Patrick) and just go with the two names.. Ian Patrick. But that's just me. Or you could just save John for a possible 5th (or even better, put it on the 'Save for Grandkids' list!)

Hope that helps some!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 1:39pm

What about Ethan John-Patrick L...?

My friend has a little boy named John Patrick, and they call him by both names. The flow sounds better this way, and I like the hyphenation.

Congratualations, and let us know what you think!

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Tue, 05-17-2005 - 3:38pm

I have two middle names, as do all three of my children. While I only refer to them by their first name (I don't even use the middles when they're in trouble!), I really love the 'extra' name. It's a family tradition for us, and I don't hyphenate them. As an example, here are the first and both middle names of my three children:

Brayden Spencer Reid
Ellington Reese Claire
Jackson Ryder Price

Our last name is very 'plain', so I found it even more important to follow the family tradition because of it!

Love,
Lane

with
Brayden
Ellie
and Baby Jacks

Avatar for devonelisa
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 12:40pm

You can use them as you wish - my husband may be MVE or M.V. or just M. depending on the circumstances and how many identifiers are needed.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 05-18-2005 - 2:12pm
Thank you for your help. All of your input was wonderful and very helpful. Gail