Two Middle Names... Inspired by the Did you change your last name? thread

[MJMouse]

I didn't want to hijack the other thread, so here goes...

I'm getting married this year and have decided to take my fiance's last name. The part I'm stuck on is what to do about my middle/maiden name.

I'm thinking about keeping my middle name and making my maiden name a second middle name. (I.E. if my name was Amanda Jane Smith and my fiance Joe Jones, my legal name would be Amanda Jane Smith Jones but go by Amanda Jones).

My middle name was chosen because it's my aunts first name (she and I have a special bond because of this), but I also don't want to comepletely get rid of the maiden name (which interestingly enough is also a common girl's name).

I'm interested in hearing from people who have done this or those who have had two middle names from birth (or for other reasons)... what do you do when filling out legal forms that ask for middle initial/middle name? Are there any drawbacks?

I was thinking that I'd just use one or the other as the initial. . .

 

[ZPT1022]

My son has two middle names- one for my father who died when I was little, and one for my father in law who died while I was pregnant with my son (and his twin sister). It hasn't been a problem and if there is not room to put both names or initials on a form, we either put none or the first one. We haven't had any problems with the multiple names save for a few rude comments from people about his long name, but I just tell them WHY he has all those names and that usually shuts them up.



ETA- FWIW, I hyphenated my last name but rarely use the full thing, I just make sure to write the entire name on legal type forms and use my husband's last name socially and on things where it's not as important to have the full legal name- ie, mailing labels, sending holiday cards, etc...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I kept my middle name and maiden name (First Middle Maiden Married). Some things (passport) have all four names. Some things (drivers license) have First Maiden Married; and a few (health plan) have First Middle Married. I have had no problems using all the names, in whatever situation arises. It also makes it real easy to figure out who sold my name to any mailing lists I don't want to be on.

 

[MomofKatie]

You should have no problem with what you want to do- I know of lots of friends who have the First, Middle, Maiden Last, DH Last thing going on.

I dropped my maiden name altogether- never liked it. I am just First Middle DH Last.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I have two middle names. I liked it b/c my first and last name combined is only 8 letters. (Oddly still is even though I took my DH's last name.)

It is all totally easy.

For those with children--the birth certificate accomodates.

For those traveling--the passport compensates.

For any document requiring a FULL LEGAL NAME....my name has always been accomodated. Where it hasn't, they will utilize first name space to accomodate.

My only "issue" (though I don't consider it a problem) is when there is a space for only 1 MI--in those instances, I just use my first.

It isn't a big deal and don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Especially if they don't have that "problem". (DH is funny--he feels I should be having an identity crisis or something when I can't use my full name or both MI's like "normal" people. I never got that. But as a result, he's adament that our children do not have two middle names. I may sneak an extra one in on this baby though.)

 

[tinkerfan1]

I have both my original middle name and my maiden name as middle names. I was named after a brother who died before I was born. He was Michael Duane. I am Michelle Diane. I did not want to give that name up because I consider that to be very special. He was only 4 years old when he died and I never knew him but I considered his name to be a special gift to me. Therefore, I did not give it up when I got married and I didn't want to remove the last name, either, since that, too, was part of his name. Like another poster said, if a form only allows one middle initial, I put the first one. On my social security card, it has all four (first, two middle, and married last name). It has never caused me any problems.

 

[disney1990]

We gave our DD two middle names. It hasn't been an issue. Sometimes it is too long for some forms, so she leaves off the second middle name.

 

[TiggerStac]

I kept my middle name and maiden name (First Middle Maiden Married). Some things (passport) have all four names. Some things (drivers license) have First Maiden Married; and a few (health plan) have First Middle Married. I have had no problems using all the names, in whatever situation arises. It also makes it real easy to figure out who sold my name to any mailing lists I don't want to be on.

This is exactly how mine is. all 3 scenarios are how I use mine....

When I do my initials I use my first, maiden married. not sure why, but that's what I do.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I have 3 middle names, even though one could be considered one. Im Ann Marie Katherine.

 

[quentina]

My daughter was adopted at 5. Her name was Jolicia Patricia and she was aware of her full name. So, I added Alexis since I always wanted a daughter with that middle name.

Lawyer tried to talk me out of it however; I would not hear of it.

 

[minkydog]

I kept my maiden name for a while after I got married, but finally decided to shorten it. My new last name is Greek and has 10 letters. I go by Cathy, but that's short for Catherine, my middle name.(Never call your kids by their middle name, it's a mess when it comes to legal stuff.) I never used my first name. So I ended up legally changing my name to Catherine Maiden-Name Last-Name.

Each of my three children have two middle names:
John George Christopher
Eleni Catherine Georgette
Christian Thomas George

That's right, all three of my kids are named George. They go by their first names only.

 

[Plannin'Shannon]

My boyfriend has two middle names and has never had an issue. For official documents he uses First name, Middle Initial, Middle Initial, Last name.

I adore my full name. My father named me and is no longer with us, so I'm especially sentimental about keeping my name. When we get married, I will be keeping my three names and adding my new last name. Then we'll both have four names.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I gave my daughters 2 middle names.. They are Isabella Theresa Maria and Cassandra Marie Elaine.

If there is room I put both middle names.. or I do put both middle Initials.

 

[englishteacha]

I feel so welcome in this thread! I am the ONLY person I know who just added her DH's name onto her existing one! Everyone around here thinks it's odd. It's never been a problem, except when I have to choose one middle initial over the other. Is it really that much harder to add one extra box for 2 initials? My social security card has all 4 names, my driver's license has both middle initials, but my paycheck can only have one? C'mon now!

The funny part for me is that my 2 middle initials are J.R., so I often get junk mail to Mr. EnglishTeacha Jr. Makes it really easy to throw it away if the solicitor can't even figure out I'm a woman!

 

[dollydell]

my brother and sister both have 2 middle names and I only have one, I always felt jealous, so my plan when I get married has always been to keep my middle name and make my last name my middle name also.

My brother and sister have no problems with having 2 middle names, if forms only allow for one middle initial they put the first one.

 

[Disney Doll]

I had an acuaintance whose mother used her middle name and maidne name and married name.

So if her name was Ann Elizabeth Smith Jones, she'd usually sign
Ann E.S Jones.

 

[fairestoneofall]

when i got married, i dropped my previous middle name (my grandmother's name) for my maiden name. my grandparents were never really interested in our lives, so i didn't feel especially close to my grandma. having my dad's name was more important.

my son has two middle names. the first is my husband's middle name (which is the name he uses instead of his first name). the second is my maiden name.

my DD says that she wants to have my maiden name in her name as well. and, will often refer to herself with it as a second middle name. i told her, when she's old enough, she's more than welcome to change it.

 

[samshane]

My oldest DD has 2 middle names - never have had any problems with it. She is Claire, after my mom, and Delia, after my grandmother, who was seriously ill at the time and a very big part of my life. She died when my DD was about 1. On any forms and stuff of importance, it is always abbreviated as C.D. Her initials are ECDC and she thinks that is the best.

 

[Sarah_Rose]

I also have two middle names, and it's never been a problem, even though my first middle name is long. My name is Sarah Christine Rose, and I always write both middle names on forms if there is room. If not, I'm Sarah C.R. My DIS nickname is even just my first name and my second middle name - Rose is a family name that goes back as far as anyone can dig up records on my mom's side of the family. If I have a daughter, she will get Rose as a middle name, as well.

When I got married, I dropped my maiden name. It was unspellable and unpronounceable and frankly, I don't miss it. The only good part about it is it was short, so I could always fit in both my middle names. On my old drivers' license, I was Sarah Christine Rose "Lastname". Now, my new license reads, Sarah Christine R "Lastname". I'm sad that I lost the Rose in there!