Home » Partners & Parents » Baby Names » Monkey in the Middle

Monkey in the Middle

© Kristen Hanley Cardozo

Middle names are sometimes considered unnecessary additions to baby names, since they are rarely used in addressing the child. However, over the years they’ve become almost indispensable. Less thought is usually put into middle names than first names, since this is the “throwaway” name. Middle names can yet serve a few interesting purposes.

The addition of a middle name creates a more balanced and unique look to a name. The eye prefers to see a group of three rather than two, and the middle name makes a full name look finished. Furthermore, with common names like Jacob and Emma, a middle name may become the key to telling two students apart. Emma Maureen and Emma Shane sound more distinctive than Emma K. and Emma L. A middle name can also serve as an alternative name if your child decides at any point that he dislikes his first name. A middle name is also a good place to hide a name you’d prefer not to use, but have gotten family pressure to use. Maybe you aren’t crazy about naming the baby after Great Aunt Hortense, but if you use it as a middle name (or better yet, find out that she has a middle name you love) then you may be saved from deciding between family anger and a name you dislike.

Unfortunately, most people end up with similar middle names. I am Kristen Marie, and in my circle of female friends, most of us have the middle name Marie, or some variation. The only times I was ever in classes or playgroups with other Kristens, they too had the middle name Marie. My sister is named Erin Elizabeth, and it is astonishing how many Erins bear the selfsame middle name.

Male names fall into a different trap. Most male middle names are family names, and are usually keened from among very traditional names. This works out particularly well when the first name is something unusual like Keegan or Royce. However, oftentimes this is simply a recombination of the top few names for boys, meaning that many boys have the same names.

These days, the most commonly used middle names for girls are as follows, in no particular order: Marie, Elizabeth, Ann(e), Grace, Nicole, Rose, Faith, and Lee/Leigh. The most commonly used middle names for boys are: Michael, James, John, Joseph, Robert, Thomas, and William.

Syllables are the most important consideration with middle names. The reason Marie sounds good with so many names is that the accent is on the second syllable, unlike most two syllable female names, creating a rhythm. Names with the same accents and syllables tend to sound lackluster together. Emma Sarah doesn’t have the bounce of Emma Nicole or Emma Rose. Oftentimes it is easy to think of a number of good middle names once you have figured out how many syllables sound best with the first name in question.

The copyright of the article Monkey in the Middle in Baby Names is owned by . Permission to republish Monkey in the Middle in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.