Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

I'm not a big fan of odd/different first names (ex: Apple, Blanket, Prince, etc)

But we're trying to pic a name for our DD and I want to use a middle name that's not really a name, but a word.

Is it "wrong"?

I know growing up middle names weren't a big deal, but I feel like now they are.

Thoughts?

Oh, the word is Butterfly.

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

What about names that mean Butterfly?

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I'm not a fan of those types of names at all.

Is she ever going to want to tell people her middle name?

And when she's 20 - 30ish and gets married, is she going to want to have it on her wedding invitations?

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

We went with a very different middle name for our son. We toyed with the last names of famous people we liked, such as Lennon or Lincoln. We opted for Mack.

We liked it because it could be another last name for him in the future in his profession. Strange but it worked for us. Plus, a lot of people use their maiden name as a middle name, which is not very different. I like using something different for a middle name because it is just the middle name. If he doesn't want to share it, he doesn't have to.

ETA: You can also use words that are associated with that word. Or even the word in another language. For instance, try here

Mariposa is pretty

Message edited 7/10/2012 9:18:18 AM.

Anything

I agree with Jess. Plus, I use middle names often. In fact, I call my sister by her middle name.

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

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Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

If she married Dr. House, she would be Susan Butterfly House. ... or President Amy Butterfly House.

While middle names are not used often in our society, they are still a legal part of your name, and must be used in certain instances. I think middle names are fine for "honoring" an older family name. DW and I don't like "junioring", but DS has my first name as his middle name.

I wouldn't choose a completely unusual middle name, but something unique is OK.

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I really, really love Mariposa and think that would be a beautiful middle name!

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I just wanted to add about drivers licenses. When I lived in NY I had my middle initial on my license. Now that I live out of state, my drivers license has my full name, as it reads on my birth certificate. DH's does as well. How it is on your Birth Certificate is the way they put it on the license. So depending on where she lives it could very well be a part of her identification. Especially nowadays with so much identification theft and such.

You'll never know whether she'll like it or not. You could pick Marie and she might not like it. Do what you feel is best, or go with your gut.

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I would use mariposa. Thats a beautiful name and means butterfly. I know girls whose 1st name is mariposa and they are called mari. For a middle name it works even better.

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I would not use butterfly for all the reasons mentioned above. I like the idea of finding another word that means that... One of my sons' middle name is Croix. We actually considered it for a first name but thought it would be mispronounced as Troy and he'd have to be correcting people all the time. We found it on a wine list

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

My halfsister's middle name is Chablis. Yes, like the wine

SHe has to use it on official paperwork and HATES it. After her divorce, she finally changed it officially.

So no, I would not do Butterfly for a middle name.

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

Re: Anything "wrong" with odd/different middle names?

Is there a serious reason behind it, or do you just think butterflies are pretty and like the word? *I* wouldn't use it, but if you like it, go for it. Good call making it a middle name though - Butterfly is rarely a CEO's first name, KWIM?

eta: ITA with the PP that said middle names are used more often then we think: awards, diplomas, applications, driver licenses, etc.

Message edited 7/10/2012 11:18:50 AM.

Anything

I like middle names that are different. MUCH better than some of the wacky first names these days. DS' middle is the last name of a reality star DH and I like. If you like butterfly, then use it. It is a pretty word that brings to mind pretty mental pictures.

Anything

Your child, your choice!! I think it's important to weigh how a name will/could affect the child in the future. But aside from that, it's up to you and your husband. No one else!!

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Honestly... I never ever get to use my middle name. Its on my business card because I had my workplace redo them to have it there. That's it. I think middle name importance is totally overblown.

If it is really important to you... Go for it. We used ethnic middle names for our kids.

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To the OP, if you like Butterfly, go with it -- YOU are the parent and YOU get to decide but here's another thought to consider: in some professional settings, a middle name can pop into your e-mail or "permanent" file. At my previous employer, middle names were visible on your HR files. As a manager, I was part of the team's annual reviews and I remember a male employee was very upset when his superiors discovered his middle name was Marion (sp?). It was a family name but I thought it was terrible that he felt he needed to explain/justify his parents' thought process 30yrs ago while discussing his performance review.

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My mother made up my middle name. She wanted to honor her father Charles, so my middle name is Charon. Growing up my mom pronounced it with a hard Ch (Ch-aron), but I pronounce it as Sharon. It's actually the name of the moon that circles Pluto, though I don't think my mom knew that.

I do have to explain all the time why it is spelled the way it is.

I do agree that Butterfly is a little out there, but I am more into traditional names anyway.

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I agree with a pp that if it has special meaning then use it. I am not really a "name" middle name person as a meaning middle name person. So I would rather be Lindi Butterfly because butterfly's were special to my mother and grandmother and when she died they remind my mother of her then say Lindi Jane just because it sounded good KWIM?