New parents put a considerable amount of thought into their child’s first name and give secondary importance to the middle name. Some parents avoid giving their child a middle name altogether. However, if you are a new parent, you may note that your child’s middle name offers the perfect spot for you to get creative and personal. There are no set rules to pick one.
You may choose a name that aligns well with the first name in terms of theme and diction or go for one that contrasts the first name and adds a sense of uniqueness to the full name. Websites like Nameopia are great places to get started.
Meaning of the Name
You could choose a middle name based on its meaning. Suppose you want a specific ideology or concept represented in your child’s middle name; you could choose the word that quintessentially represents such ideology or concept and choose that for your child’s middle name.
Some people pick middle names purely based on the meaning of a word. Names like “Hope,” “Destiny,” and “Ocean” often represent the parents’ love for the meaning of the word. Meaningful middle names that idealize a concept or idea go well with simple, carefree first names.
Name Origins
You may consider the origin of specific middle names. The names may be from religious texts like the Bible. You could also consider details like the origin of the name, the country where it’s familiar, or the culture it represents. The name may have different meanings in two different languages.
Celebrity Names
The middle name of your child can be linked to your favorite celebrity’s name. You may use sites like Nameopia to know the details of celebrity names. You could also connect the middle name to a movie character you love or the names of fictional characters.
Studies show that fans of fictional works like Harry Potter often resort to naming their child after their favorite character from the book. Parents may also name their child after a historical personality or hero they adore.
Cultural Significance of the Name
Your child’s middle name could flaunt their ethnicity. For instance, if you are an immigrant in the US from India, Spain, or Cambodia, you could choose a name representing your ethnicity. This method is standard when both parents are from different cultures.
The middle name could be related to a holiday, concept, or values of a specific culture. This way, your ethnicity and culture will always be a part of your child’s life wherever they go.
Middle Names Based on Family Members’ or Friends’ Names
Surveys show that most parents choose a family member’s name or a close friend’s name for their child’s middle name. Some children are even named after their grandparents, granduncles, or aunts.
Do Your Research
Your child’s middle name will be a permanent part of their identity and life. Putting careful attention to picking the right name will help ensure that you choose the perfect middle name. While middle names are not as frequently used as first names and last names, they still play a critical role in your child’s future.
Although most parents are not really concerned about middle names since they show up in an abbreviated form most of times, still, make sure to put a little more effort. Your kid must be able to say his/her middle name proudly if and when asked.
