Calling child by middle name? A post...

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Calling child by middle name? A post...
3
Wed, 04-26-2006 - 3:10pm

Calling child by middle name? A post for my cousin...



  • I like it.
  • Doesn't bother me.
  • Avoid if possible, but not terrible.
  • Awful! Inviting future confusion!
  • I have a child who's called by his/her middle name, and I regret it.
  • I have a child called by his/her middle name, and I think it's fine.


You will be able to change your vote.


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2005
Wed, 04-26-2006 - 4:45pm

I like it. I don't necessarily like it BETTER than going by a first name, but I didn't think "it doesn't bother me" was strong enough. Also, there was no category for this, but I go by my middle name and don't regret it at all. I've never had any problem with confusion or with people acting like it is strange. In my family, it's quite common for the girls to go by their middle name or at least to use



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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-08-2004
Wed, 04-26-2006 - 5:22pm
Thanks, Annie. My cousin is having a boy in September, and everyone is giving her he** about not using the name that she wants to call him as his first name. I was just hoping to give her a better idea of what people think about it, because I think that our family is making too big of a deal about it. The name she has picked out is great, and it includes family connections...I don't understand what the problem is.
Avatar for haarlasr
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 04-26-2006 - 10:41pm

Yep, I basically agree with Annie. My DH goes by his mn. His dad loved an old family name (Frederick), and his mom loved a more "current" name (Scott), so they decided to use them both. Frederick Scott had a much nicer flow, and they wanted to call him Scott, so that's what they did. It causes occasional confusion, but it hasn't been too big of a deal.

He said he didn't like it as much when he was younger (b/c Fred/Frederick was a "dorky" name), but now he likes to have a full professional name for resumes, etc., but he feels more like a "Scott."

I had another friend whose parents always called her by her mn, but in college, she decided to go by her fn -- it was confusing at first, but most people adapted just fine.

Good luck to your friend!
Stephanie