Experience with going by your middle name vs. first

[maci]

Anyone out there go by their middle name vs. your first.

What are your experiences? Is it a hassle? Or not that big of a deal?

Thanks!

 

[sweet angel]

Legally, or casually? Casually you can call yourself just about anything you want, but if you want your name legally changed to your middle name, you'd have to go to court.

 

[Nite0wl71]

We named our DS Charles David Jr and have always called him David. It was no problem even in school, only in 7th-8th grade his teachers decided he should be called by his first name. I can always tell what friends he had in those grades because when they see me they ask how "Charles" is doing. He is almost 27 now and legally everything says his full name but everyone calls him by his middle.

 

[DawnCt1]

My Mom always went by her middle name. In medical offices people would address her by her actual first name but it was unusual to hear it. Oddly enough, with 6 brothers and sisters, they all went by different names. It was like a "family pattern". Either they used nick names from the time they were very young or middle names. My mother's name was Hazel Ruth. She went by Ruth. My aunt's name was Viola Mildred, she was called Middy. My aunt Madelaine was called Pepper. My uncle Joe's real name was Ralph. My uncle Jack's real name was Albert. They both had sons who were named after them exactly. They were called Joey and Jackie. My cousin Bobby's name is George. MY cousin Dolly's real name is Elizabeth. It was totally bizarre.

 

[maci]

Thinking in the context of naming a baby. But having them go by their middle name.

 

[cabmom]

My first born is Hugh(after my dad) Connor, he goes by Connor. He's 9, and most kids don't know his real name.

 

[DawnCt1]

Thinking in the context of naming a baby. But having them go by their middle name.

I think it is difficult to have a name that children have to explain. My name was obviously Dawn. It is not an unusual name now. However when I was in school it was unusual. I had to correct or spell it for almost everyone. It wasn't until I was in nineth grade that I met another person with my name. I would have hated to correct people and tell them well Dawn is my name but I go my Julia. (my middle name)

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

I go by my middle name, Clare. I have for nearly 5 years now, and haven't had a problem. Some family friends and friends had some trouble adjusting at first, and some family still accidentally call me my first name, or nickname, but I don't mind. If you start calling them their middle name at a young age, it won't be a problem at all...at school they'd just simply tell the teacher they go by 'such-and-such'. I had a friend who went by her middle name, when we were in grade school and younger..and have a fellow highschool classmate go by her middle name. It's quite common. Now, of course I use my actual first name for important papers related to state standardized testing, job applications, and my driver's license, but other than that!

HTH

 

[Nite0wl71]

We just told the teachers when he started school to call him by his middle name because he might not answer otherwise Everyone was fine with it but like I said earlier everything legal is in his first name.

 

[Disney_1derland]

We have friends with a 4 year old who goes solely by his middle name. It has never been an issue. Even when registering dd for kindergarten there was First Name: Last Name: and Prefers to be called: on the application.

I don't think it's terribly a big deal, lots of adults go by a first initial middle name on business cards and the like.

 

[debster812]

Thinking in the context of naming a baby. But having them go by their middle name.

Well.....my cousin and her husband just had their eldest son's name legally changed.

He was named First Name Middle Name Last Name. Never ever ever went by anything other than his middle name, which happened also to be kind of 'nick-name-y.

When he hit middle school, one of the rules of conduct of the school was that students could not be officially referred to by their nickname, regardless of whether it was "Buddy" or "Shark Bait".

After 12 years, he just could not answer to his given name, so they went to court and had it legally changed.

But my dad has also always only gone by his middle name. For his business, he was First Initial Middle name, Last name

 

[disykat]

Speaking from personal experience - I consider it a hassle. I found out about my first name when my older sister was teaching me to write cursive when I was in the first grade - it was a surprise to me. I'd probably been told, but that's not what I remember. I demanded to be called my first name. My family compromised and let me go by my first name at school and continued to call me my nickname (short for my middle name) at home. Thus the beginning of my duel identity.

I have met several people over the years that tell the exact same story. Demanding to be called their first name when they reached school age and ending up being known by two names for the rest of their lives.

I've usually been first name at work and school, nickname for middle name at home. When I entered college, I had decided to go by my nickname, but when I arrived at the dorm and saw everything in my first name I decided it was too much of a hassle to be the person who had to tell every prof etc. that I go by a different name. The profs always asked, but I really didn't want to make an issue of it in front of 100 people in a lecture hall. At Christmas I write my cards in order of who calls me what so I don't sign the wrong name. At my wedding I was called "firstname nickname" throughout. Now as a SAHM, I mainly go by my nickname - since that is what dh calls me and we have moved. I have now established contacts in the community under my nickname. Now that I am putting out a resume, I'm doing it under "firstname nickname" in hopes that people understand that the names on my official transcipts etc. and employment records and the names on my volunteer awards are the same person!

My cousin asked my advice on this many years ago and ignored me. She told me recently that her now 19 year old son wishes they had named him differently.

It's not a huge ordeal, but it is a hassle.

 

[CarolA]

My brother is Robert Mark. My dad was Bob so he was always Mark. Only the military ever called him Robert. (They don't care what you want to be called LOL!)

It's never seemed to bother him.

I once knew a girl whose first name was Verna... she went by the middle name and when she got married she dumped Verna altogether. It's not that hard.

 

[KristaTX]

I go by my middle name and always have. It's a not a humongous pain, but it is a hassle. I've told myself that if I ever have a child, he will go by his first name and it will be easy to pronounce and spell.

 

[momof3disneyholics]

My brother has gone by his middle name his whole life, Alex. The only time I actually ever heard him being called by his first name was when the priest said it when he got married. It actually sounded weird to hear. I always knew that Jon was his first name, but he has always been Alex to everyone that knew him.

 

[sunni]

My father and uncles go by their middle names. Not a problem, I don't believe, until my dad was an adult. No matter how many times my father has told them he doesn't go by his first name or answer to it, the large company he works for always pages him by First Name Last Name (and he's been there 30 years).

When DB and I were young, my father was pulled over by a cop (because of the loud muffler) while we were in the back seat. My father's first name is Charles. The cop looks at his license and calls him "Charlie", which sent my brother & I into fits of laughter. We were back there hootin' and hollerin' "Charlie... ha, ha, ha....Charlie.... he called Dad 'Charlie'... ha, ha, snort, ha..." Let's just say my dad was NOT a happy man and we heard it when the cop pulled away.

 

[coreysmom]

maci,
I have always gone by my middle name. In my family alot of the girls were named Mary as a first name and then were called by thier middle name. Maybe it's a Catholic thing!! I've never had any problems with it. On paper work and whatnot I just write my full given name, but when I meet someone that does'nt know me I just introduce myself as Tricia.

 

[maci]

Thanks guys.
This baby naming thing has really been hard this time around!

 

[Annette_VA]

Don't do it!!

I go by my middle name & I hate it!

The first day of school, every year, every class - you have to correct the teacher "No, sorry, I'm not Catherine, I'm Annette"

I've had insurance claims denied because they got them w/ the name "C. Annette" on them and they had me on file as "Catherine".

I go to dr's appointments & they call for "Catherine" to come back and I don't respond because I don't think they're talking to me.

Very rarely do you find a form (paper or online) that has a spot for full middle name. Even if you do, and you put big asterisks by the middle name or highlight it in some way, people will still want to call you by your first name.

It is one big huge PITA! Thus, my kids go by their first names.

 

[vettechick99]

My friend is called by her middle name and told me never to do that to my child. She was always correcting teachers and it's just a huge hassle when doing paperwork.