USING SON MIDDLE

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Registered: 09-15-2006
USING SON MIDDLE
14
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:04pm

Please give me some advice.

I have a son named Brendan Matthew (first, middle name). I love the name Mattthew and want to use it as my 2nd son's first name. Is this a volation of the the "naming rules"? Their are not any other Matthew's in the family. I simply love the name. I have read the name book over and over and the only other thing I can come up with is Mattison, like Madison. I just changed the spelling to look more masculine and it turns up that Mattison is a variation of Matthew. Opinions please. Oh, and do you think that Mattison is to girly for a boy, esp. with the recent interest in Madison?

Thanks!!

Kim

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2005
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:19pm
My ex's name was Dustin Adam...guess what his brother's name was? Adam haha. I don't see a problem with it as long as they both always use their first names :)
  ~~~Rachael wife to Mike~~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-15-2006
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:23pm
Thanks. I keeping telling everyone that, but they don't seem to agree.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-17-2005
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:35pm
LOL tell them to shut up, it's your kid! It's not like everyone goes around introducing themselves by first middle and last names, a lot of people wont even know that Matthew is the oldest ones MN. If you can use a father's
  ~~~Rachael wife to Mike~~~
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2005
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:46pm

To be very honest, it would look like you just didn't take the same time and thought when naming your second son. I'm not just referring to how it appears to others, but what your son might think when he's older. Kind of like you chose a name you truly loved for your oldest, then just decided to use one of his names for the next. I understand if you don't think anything is as appealing to you right now, but there are literally thousands of names out there, so I don't think the explanation "I just didn't like anything as much" will fly. There are so many more names out there than just what's in a baby name book. Most spend countless hours (or even years!) searching through various web sites, family geneologies, literature (not even just baby-related) and yes, even the traditional baby name books and sites looking for the perfect name. Heck, the SSA site alone lists the top 1000 boy names, so even that's a start. In other words, I'd keep looking.

As to Mattison/Madison, I don't think it's quite as bad to use a variation of your first son's mn for this one's fn (much better than just giving him the same name and calling it a day, KWIM?), but you may want to stay away from this one for the reasons you already mentioned. Madison IS a masculine name. The fact that it's being used for girls doesn't change that, so I wouldn't change the spelling of Madison just to make it MORE masculine. However, the fact that it is so trendy and popular right now -- not to mention one of the most commonly-misspelled, meaning little "Mattison" will appear no different from all the other Madison/Madysyon/Maddysins -- would steer me far from this choice.

If you still find yourself coming back to Matthew, try considering what draws you to that name. You can find names with similar sounds or elements. Matthias, Murphy, Thaddeus, Nathan(iel), Jonathan, Ethan, Ewan, Owen, Theodore, Malachi, Malcolm, Solomon, Andrew, Bartholomew, Philip, Mabry, Maddock, Maddox, Marshall, Maverick, Hugh, Lewis, Montague

HTH, and good luck! ;)

~Kelli


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Registered: 12-16-2004
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:53pm

I have friend which has his big brother middle name has his first and his younger has a female version of his middle name, so now I don't think it odd.


I don't like Mattison on kid, cause

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2005
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 2:59pm

As someone who uses my first and middle name interchangeably, I'm firmly opposed to this. Often as people grow up, they decide they'd rather be known by their middle name. My middle name is MINE, as much as my first name is. And I would be VERY unhappy if I had to share it with a sibling. I have a good friend who is Laura Marie and her younger sister is Jennifer Marie. Laura HATES sharing her middle name with her younger sister and has told me over and over again how much she envies me the choice of using either of my names.

There is no rule. It's your child, so if you really want to use Matthew again, it's up to you. But, personally, I would be very opposed to it. I like the idea of using a variation of Matthew or finding a name that is similar in style. Good luck.




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Registered: 03-20-2003
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 3:52pm

I can see both sides

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Registered: 12-03-2003
Fri, 09-15-2006 - 5:54pm

Personally I can see how the second child would feel gypped out of a unique personal name. He might feel like he is getting the leftovers and his name wasn't important enough to to put some extra thought into.

I would say keep looking for the sake of the second son.

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Avatar for 3togetready
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Registered: 10-19-1999
Sat, 09-16-2006 - 2:57am
I had twin great Uncles who were named Cordes Norman and Norman Cordes. I always thought it was kind of cute that they were named that way. Maybe that was something they did 80+ years ago. I don't think that I would do it but its your child so you should do what you want.
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2006
Sat, 09-16-2006 - 5:09am

To be honest if I met anyone who's first name was their older sibling's middle name I would immediately think that the older sibling had died and the younger sibling was named after them. That's just my initial first reaction though - based on nothing (ha) so I don't know how much stock I'd put in it. :)

How about Mathison as a first name. It's kind of like Matthew, but not.



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