While there is great variety, middle names are often used to commemorate a loved one, such as an older relative, someone who has died, or a personal hero. Sometimes a middle name is decided on simply because it augments the first name. Some parents choose one based on its first letter or sound in order to achieve alliteration or synchronicity with the other two names. While most kids (80%) end up with one middle name, some families choose to provide their child with two or more middle names (11%) either because they can’t decide on just one or they like the sound of several names strung together.
History
Middle names are commonly given to many American children but this was not always the case. This trend has grown over the past century, gaining tremendous popularity over the past several generations, going from around a third of children having three names in the early 20th century to the vast majority today.
Adaline Aubrey Blaire Dakota Eden Gia Hermione Jane Juniper Maeve Molly Ophelia Rae Vale Violet Willow
Western Traditions
The Western tradition of choosing a middle name goes back to at least the Roman Empire when some men (particularly of the ruling class) were given three names. The custom fell out of favor and then was revived during the Middle Ages when some European families wanted to select both a family name and a Christian name for their child. Instead of picking between the two options, many parents began giving their children one of each with the second name often the Christian or baptismal name.
Middle Name Usage In Other Countries
In other parts of the world, such as in China and many other Asian countries, middle names are not commonly used. In Australia (and often in the United States, too), the mother’s maiden name is picked. In Russia, the tradition is to use a version of the father’s name to recognize paternity. In many African countries, multiple middle names are used to denote ethnic group, religious affiliation, day and time of birth, and/or names contributed by older relatives.
Modern Traditions
Today, some families still use the middle name as a Christian (or other religious) name but it is often picked from family names as well. By and large, in English-speaking homes, it is now very common to choose a familial name for the middle name, which can sometimes lead to more old-fashioned and/or longer names being used that don’t normally make the most popular lists, such as Gwendolyn, Harriet, Ethel, Penelope, or Guinevere. Still other families may pick their girl’s middle name on a whim or due to coincidence, such as choosing the name of the doctor or nurse who delivers their baby. Some people select a name based on attributes they see in the child (or hope to bestow on them). However, according to a study completed by Ancestry.com, around 55% of parents do choose commemorative middle names, and 15% use second given names that have run in their families for multiple generations.
Challenges In Choosing a Middle Name
Picking middle names can be quite challenging, but the task also leaves lots of room for imagination and meaning. In fact, sometimes it’s even harder to pin down the ideal middle name than the first name as not only does it need to complement both the first and last names in sound, alliteration, spirit, and rhythm, but it is also often used to pay homage to someone or something and/or is intended to hold special meaning or imbue qualities imagined for the child. So, the humble middle name often has a lot of notes to hit. And while it’s by no means a rule, middle names are often just a few syllables in length, so that’s a lot of work to be done by just a few letters. Parents may consider using the name of their hometown, their last name, or even one of their favorite things or characteristics. Some options include selecting a favorite fruit (think Plum or Persimmon), emotion (like Bliss or Joy), or season (such as Summer or Winter). Really, anything is on the table, as long as it feels right to you. However, choosing a person (or place or thing) to select for that honor can sometimes be tricky, especially if there are several special people in the running, which may include an ancestor, family member, friend, or celebrity. Feelings can get hurt (particularly if one of two grandmothers gets the honor in lieu of the other), a situation that can be delicate to navigate. Still, ultimately, parents need to go with their instincts and select the name that best suits their baby and speaks to their hearts.
1-Syllable Middle Names
Sometimes, syllable length is the paramount quality parents are looking for in their baby girl’s middle name. Below are 100 one-syllable choices to help you find the right one to tuck between their first and last names:
Ann (Anne) Bay Bea Bee Belle Beth Blaire Blake Bliss Blue Blythe Brae Bree Britt Brooke Bryne Brynn Cass Claire Chris Dale Dawn Dell Dove Drew Elle Eve Faith Fawn Faye Fern Flor Frost Gem Grace Greer Hope Jade Jai (Jay) Jan Jane Jazz Jean (Jeanne) Jess Jill Jo Joy Jude June Kai Kat Kate Kay Lake Lane Lark Leaf Lee (Leigh and Li) Liv Love Lou (Lu) Lux Lynn (Lynne) Mae Maeve May Moss Nell Neve North Paige Pam Peace Pearl Plum Quinn Rae Rain Reese Rose Ruth Sage Sam Scout Shae Shawn Shore Sky (Skye) Sloane Snow Spring Star (Starr) Sue Tate Teal Tess True Vale Wren Wyn
2-Syllable Middle Names
If you’re on the hunt for a two-syllable name that nestles in perfectly between your new baby girl’s first and last names, you’ve got lots of possible names to choose from. Below are 100 of the most popular options:
Abby (Abbie) Ada Adele Aiko Ainsley Alice Alma Amber Amy Anna Apple April Aqua Arden Aubrey Audrey Autumn Ava Bailey Bebe Bette (Betty) Bella Billie Brenna Brooklyn Bunny Cadi (Cady) Cali (Callie) Camille Carly Casey Celeste Charlotte Chloe Clara Cody Cora Corinne Daisy Daphne Demi Dolly Eden Elaine Ella Elsa Emma Etta Fallon Fuchia Garnet Gia Giselle Greta Hailey Hana (Hannah) Harper Hazel Ingrid Ivy Jamie Jasmine Jenna Jewel Jordan Journey Josie Katelynn Kayla Keira Kelly Kenya Laura Lauren Lily Lola Louise Mary Maya Megan Mia Molly Nicole Nora Nova Olive Orchid Peyton Piper Reagan Riley Ruby Sadie Sarah Scarlett Simone Skylar Sophie Willow Zoe (Zoey)
3- and 4-Syllable Middle Names
Sometimes, parents are looking for a longer name to link their daughter’s given and last names. Here are 100 of the most popular three- and four-syllable middle names for girls to help you on your naming quest:
Abigail Adalynn Adaline Adelaide Addison Alexandra Allison Annabelle Aria (Ariya) Artemis Athena Augustine Aurora Avalon Avery Bethany Brianna Camila Cassandra Caroline Celia Charisma Christina Coraline Dakota Deborah Delilah Destiny Eleanor Elena Eliza Elizabeth Eloquence Emerson Emery Emily Evelyn Everest Everly (Everleigh) Fiona Francesca Gabrielle (Gabriella) Genevieve Genesis Gianna Gillian Henrietta Hermione Hyacinth Imagine India Ireland Isabel (Isabelle) Jocelyn Julia Juliet Juniper Karina Katherine Kensington Lavender Legacy Leilani Liberty Lillian Lorelei Lydia Mackenzie Madison Magnolia Makayla Maria Marigold Marisol Melanie Melody Meredith Milena Miriam Nadia Naomi Natalie Nevada November October Olivia Ophelia Priscilla Rebecca Samantha Savannah Sierra Sophia Susanna Tabitha Trinity Victoria Violet Waverly Winona
