How popular is that middle name?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
How popular is that middle name?
5
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 12:35am

Is there some way to see trends around middle names?

We all have some idea what the filler mns are from birth announcements, etc, but I would like to actually know how many girls out there actually have Grace or Rose or Claire or Paige as mns. And, when we have a sense that a name is really, really popular and then it only shows up at #50 in the name rankings, is it possible that the name is being used primarily as a mn? How much movement IS there between mn and fn? Say, for instance, that a fn becomes very popular, does it begin to become more popular as a mn when we become "bored with it" as fn (I love Abigail, but will probably use it as a middle name because I don't want my daughter to be just another little Abby.) Or do certain names consistently remain low in the rankings for fns, but remain extremely popular as mns for many years (Ann or Lynn).

Does anyone know of a source for middle name rankings, or any information like this?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 12-09-2005
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 7:44am

Unfortunately I don't know a source, but I can say that is seems as if every other little girl has Grace as a mn.

-Nikki
http://destastory.blogspot.com/


                             
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-13-2004
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 9:49am
I have searched for a list like that but haven't found it, however, it wouldn't be hard to get people to list middle names of the people they know with a mn... I"ll start a discussion about it...i'm sure we can get an idea.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 11:23am

I've been tracking middle names since 1986. I do have a list. However, I live in GA, and I have found over the years that some middle names are more regional than others. For example, Joy is used every once in a while here. The last time I commented on that on this board, several people let me know Joy is popular in other places.

Here's the list for the past 20 years-

1. Lynn
2. Elizabeth
3. Marie
4. Grace
5. Catherine/Katherine/Kathryn
6. Ann/Anne
7. Leigh/Lee
8. Brooke
9. Hope
10. Claire/Clare
11. Danielle
12. Rose
13. Kate
14. Nicole
15. Margaret
16. Lauren
17. Rebecca
18. Megan/Michelle (tied)
19. Caitlin/Katelyn/Caitlyn/Kaitlyn
20. Autumn

Laine/Lane, Rae, Paige, Jade, Elise, Jane, Elaine, Faith, and Denise would all be next.

Also, none of the following, by itself is in the top 20, but if you could combine them all, they would rank in the top 10!

Alyssa, Alexa, Alexis, Elaine, Elena, Alana, Alicia, Ashlyn/Ashton

Someone made a great point. It is true that people begin to look to popular names as middle names when they get really, really popular. Right now, Madison, Taylor and Morgan are being used pretty often for middle names. This is also how Megan, Lauren and Caitlin made the list above. Kristin, Brittany, and Jessica have also gone through spurts of mn popularity recently, for the same reason. Danielle and Nicole were popular first names in the 1970s, and as you see, they are now popular middle names. In the South, Catherine/Kathryn, Caroline, Rebecca, Emily, Amanda, and Rachel are used as mn pretty often. Over the country, Victoria and Olivia see consistent usage too.

In the near future, over the US as a whole, I think we will see much more use of Abigail, Sophia, Madeline, Charlotte, Lillian and Bell/Isabel/Anabel/Isabella as middle names. I think in many places Mae and Bell are already high on the list (?)

For the past 10 years, in my area, these are the rankings-

1. Grace (has been used, in my area, at almose twice the rate of ANY other middle name, except Elizabeth)
2. Elizabeth
3. Marie

Here are some middle name options that aren't quite as popular but usually flow well into many names (esp. the old-fashioned names that are big right now), and have good meanings:

1. June, Jill, Jewel, Ruth, or Eve instead of Grace, Rose, Claire (which I predict is about to grow, as people look for Grace/Rose/Claire options)
2. Emmaline/Annelise/Annalise/Alexandra/Erin/Allison/Ellen/Elle/Eloise instead of Elizabeth or Ann
3. Mariah/Mariana instead of Marie
4. Lillian/Laurel instead of Lynn or Leigh
5. Virginia/Beatrice/Millicent/Susannah/Valerie/Frances instead of Margaret, Caroline or Catherine
6. Bridget/Bridgette/Brinn/Brinley instead of Brooke
7. Kimberly/Bethany/Vanessa/Melanie instead of Caitlin/Megan/Lauren
8. Daisy instead of Rose
9. Jill or Eve instead of Hope
10. Bethany/Kimberly//Vanessa instead of Emily, Jessica, or Rebecca
11. Whitney/Spencer/Logan/Brittan/Brinn instead of Taylor, Madison, or Morgan
12. Christine/Simone/Camille instead of Danielle/Michelle/Nicole

IMO, it can really make a first name shine to put thought into the middle name. There is nothing wrong with a popular mn, IF it is being passed down as a family name. Otherwise, there are so many pretty options that are overlooked. Almost any name considered to be a first name is equally pretty as a middle name.

A lot of times when I am posting to expecting parents, I use examples (thinking it SHOWS what a difference a middle name can make)...

Olivia Grace and Ava Elizabeth and Emma Catherine and Sophia Brooke are going to meet themselves over and over. Not just their first names- their WHOLE names.

A popular first name can really sparkle by adding an unexpected mn, IMO

Olivia Ruth - Ava Beatrice - Emma Celeste - Sophia Bridget

If you want to be really outstanding, consider the following list of names I made by putting them with many first names with pretty results:
Delphine, Minette, Larae, Andrea, Linnea, Lynnette, Francine, Francesca, Ellis, Emory, Colette, Celeste, Cassidy, Josephine, Lorraine, Marjorie, Jessamin, Ryan, Blake, Candace, Adrienne, Corinne, Sloane, Melanie, Danae, Marisol, Cassandra, Scarlett, Annette, Meredith, Penelope, Eden

Also, keep in mind, in general, it's sounds best to vary the no. of syllables from fn to mn (Emma Caroline as compared to Emma Carol) and that most of the time, it sounds best NOT to run the ending sound of the fn into the beginning sound of the mn (like Emma Michelle) or to end the fn and the mn the same (like Emma Lola). Usually, a feminine middle name complements a surname fn very well. (Campbell Annelise as compared to Campbell Sheridan)

Of course, what's most important is to love the name you choose.

Later, Ginger

Ginger

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-14-2007
Tue, 05-15-2007 - 2:22pm
Thanks, Ginger! That was great info--especially all the detail about current trends and more interesting alternatives. I am definitely looking for a substantial and not overused middle name (thus this post). I have a list of favorite names--some of which are marked as middle name only, either because I don't like the nicknames and can't see using the full name all of the time (Cordelia, Francesca) or because they are too popular (Abigail, Hannah)--and from there I combine names looking for a good match. It seems as though this is a rare approach, that many/most people pick out a first name and then start looking around for a middle name that "sounds good with it." Or, of course, jam a family name that they don't really like very much into that spot as is sometimes necessary; I'm praying that I don't end up having kids with someone whose family insists on a Herman Jr. or something.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-05-2006
Wed, 05-16-2007 - 2:47pm

You're welcome!

It sounds like you have a great start on the BEST way to arrive at a WHOLE name for your child! I actually do like using family names (as long as they're good ones) WITH names you simply like.

I'd love to see some of your lists sometime.

Take care,
Ginger

Ginger