Is 2 or 3 "middle names" too much?

Question

i have a my sister is called: Susanna Jade Catherine O'Brien, i only have one middle name: Kelly Fiona O'Brien

Which do you prefer 1, 2 or 3?
Also it isn't that common to have 3 middle names, so is this a way of making your child unique?

Answer 1

I prefer one middle name. We all have to sign legal documents in our lives and how would you like to fill out the paperwork for purchasing a house with more than 3 names. Aside from that, maybe it is just a cultural thing but 3 names seem to me to be the perfect number.

Answer 2

I prefer one middle name. Adding a second middle name is OK sometimes, if it's to honor a family member or something of significance. However, no one needs three middle names, to me it's just way too much, and it's gone over being unique to just annoying.

I don't think 2 or more middle names will really make a child "unique", as most children with 2 middle names will only use one, and even if they use both, most people won't even know.

Answer 3

Generally speaking, just one middle name tends to sound the best, and more than two almost always comes across as overkill.

I don't, however, mind two middle names in certain circumstances. For example, if the parents truly want to honor more than one person. Using Georgia Mary Gwyneth to honor a grandmother and two great-grandmothers, for example, is far preferable (in my opinion) to trying to "fit them all in" by creating something like Georgia Margwen or Geory Gwyneth (and I've seen worse LOL).

Or even if the parents know they'll only be having one child, or that this will be their last, and they simply have three names they happen to love equally. In all honesty, I do think there's something to be said for giving the child those names regardless of the combo being a little lengthier than normal. After all, just the first middle name can be used on official forms and such (if the second, in addition, would truly be problematic), but at least he or she would legally have all three names -- first and two middles. Using them or not would be their choice. ;)

My father happens to have two middle names (as does his brother), but while Michael John Robert Smith (just a common example LOL) might be the official full name, it's perfectly acceptable -- and legal -- for him to use only Michael John Smith on most forms and documents, so it really isn't a hassle in the least. But should he ever WANT to use Robert, it's there for the taking. ;) He wouldn't have that option if he was only given the one middle name. So I can certainly see the arguement for two middle names (when the parents deem it appealing or necessary), though my siblings and I -- and my own children, for that matter -- have only one. ;)

What were your parents' reasons for doing so with your sister? And how does she feel about it? Has it been a problem, or does she love all three names? Just curious.

Answer 4

Its unique but too drawn out i think. I think that only 1 middle name is the way to go unless its 2 names which were family names that you just can't decide between or something. One of my neices has two middle names because they couldn't decide which one to use so did both. I think more than 1-2 is overkill.

You never use them anyway so why bother having more than 1 in my opinion.

Answer 5

two or three middle names is too much. Only the one. Using more then one makes any name difficult to "roll" off the tongue. I like your middle name by the way. I love the the name Fiona.

Answer 6

1 or 2 middle names is good but having 3 middle names is a bit extreme.

Answer 7

You can probably get away with two if you really want to, but three is overkill, I wouldn't go there. Having two middle names is already unique, three is just a pain. It will probably cause confusion either way since all the forms he/she will ever fill out will provide space for only one middle name.

Answer 8

Sometimes it can be too much, but if you want to honor some family members then it can be good. I've always wondered how having more than one middle name works. Do you list all of them on the birth certificate? What about when you enroll your child in school? Are all the names used?
Personally I like 1 middle name. I definitely think that 3 is too much!

Answer 9

3 names usually comes from adding a catholic name OR naming after both grandparents....then, too, you have the folks who just like it that way.
I only think it's a pain when filling out paperwork....otherwise it's really a non-issue.
I think it's definitely helpful in some cases to have 3 names. My brother-in-law has had awful trouble with his credit because his name is exactly the same as another man in the same city. If he had a third name, maybe it would help prevent mix-ups like that.
My mother hated middle names, so my sister & I only have one name. :P

Answer 10

Three middle names, in my opinion is too much. Two middle names isn't bad; however, I prefer to just give a child one middle name. Giving a child 3 middle names is uncommon, but I do not think names alone make a child unique- a child is unique based on his or her own personality!