How to Choose a Middle Name for Your Baby

Parents often spend a good deal of time searching for the perfect name for their baby, but sometimes the middle name can be an afterthought. Here's how to find a great middle name for your child.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Baby name books and/or access to baby name websites

1. Figure out what purpose you want the middle name to serve. Should the middle name honor a relative? Should it reflect your heritage? Or do you just want a name that sounds nice with the first and last names? Discuss this with your partner.
2. Generate a list of potential middle names that fit the purpose you want the middle name to serve. If needed, consult baby name books and websites. Rank the names in order of preference. In order to generate more names, you and your partner may want to both make a list independently.
3. Choose the potential middle names that you and your partner both like. If one of you hates one of the other's name choices, veto it.
4. Write down what you child's name would look like with each middle name. Include the first name and the last name. Read each name out loud a few times. Which looks the best? Which sounds the best?
5. Check the initials. Eliminate any middle name that causes an undesirable set of initials, like D.O.G. or P.I.G. Keep in mind that your child may get a new last name someday, especially if you're having a girl, so try to avoid future problems as well. Paige Isabella Johnson sounds nice, but what happens if she marries Bob Gordon?
6. Check to make sure the middle name doesn't cause any weird rhymes or other undesirable sound combinations.
7. Choose a middle name, and wait for your child to arrive.

Tips & Warnings

• Try the "naughty kid" test. Shout out your potential full name, as in, "Paige Isabella Johnson, you come here right this minute!" How does this sound?
• If your child has a very common first and last name, consider using an unusual middle name. This may alleviate bureaucratic mix-ups in the future. There are thousands of kids out there named David Michael Smith, but there are fewer named David Tobias Smith.
• Avoid middle names that begin with the last sound of the first name (John Nathan) or that end with the first sound of the last name (James Smith). This can make the name difficult to say.