What do you think of Mildred for a middle name?

[berry987]

Is Mildred a horrible middle name? It's my grandma's name and I'd like to honor her, but, yeah, I recognize that Mildred may not be the best middle name for a girl these days. My DH thinks it's too severe...but he can be convinced if it's what I really want 

[IwannaBanRN]

It honestly depends on the first name.

[Lula's Mom]

Ummmm... it's a little horrible?  I'm sorry!  If it's what you really want to do, you should!  I love family names! But it's not the youngest or most attractive name. Could you go with a cute shorter name, like Millie maybe?

[zinemama]

The thing is, basically no one will ever know her middle name. Do you use yours? (I'm assuming you don't have one of those names like "Mary Lou.") Her middle name will be reserved for formal paperwork and a very few social occasions or if she ever has to testify in court. So really, the choice of middle name doesn't matter in the slightest. Sure, a first name can have a powerful impact on a kid's life. But a middle name? It's the perfect time to go crazy (for the love of God, all you fans of "MyKinzee," take heed.)

So while I'm not a huge fan of the name Mildred in itself, I am a huge fan of honoring your grandmother by giving your daughter Mildred for a middle name. It makes a wonderful statement of love and respect. And I have no doubt that Mildred is going to seem lovely to you, your dh and the few other people who end up knowing your dd's middle name, when it's associated with the wonderful person she's going to be.

[berry987]

Thanks for the input! I've been telling my DH the same thing about no one really knowing anyone's middle name (maybe except at her HS graduation or something) Her first name is going to be Stella if that helps any.

[TalkToMeNow]

I think it's great! But I love old grandma names. I mean, I have a Mabel. No one is named Mabel except 90 year old women.

PS- my Mabel loves being Mabel. She thinks she never has to put a last name on anything... She's like Cher!

[jbk21]

Is grandma's middle or even last name a better option?  I know middle names aren't that big of a deal, but I do know some people (even much older people) who hate their middle name.  It will be on some important things, like wedding invites or birth announcements.  And there are even lots of things grade-schoolers do with their middle names and initials.  We wanted to have good, strong middle names for our children.  I think it enhances the first name :)  I like the idea of Millie, too!

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by zinemama 

The thing is, basically no one will ever know her middle name. Do you use yours? (I'm assuming you don't have one of those names like "Mary Lou.") Her middle name will be reserved for formal paperwork and a very few social occasions or if she ever has to testify in court. So really, the choice of middle name doesn't matter in the slightest. Sure, a first name can have a powerful impact on a kid's life. But a middle name? It's the perfect time to go crazy (for the love of God, all you fans of "MyKinzee," take heed.)

So while I'm not a huge fan of the name Mildred in itself, I am a huge fan of honoring your grandmother by giving your daughter Mildred for a middle name. It makes a wonderful statement of love and respect. And I have no doubt that Mildred is going to seem lovely to you, your dh and the few other people who end up knowing your dd's middle name, when it's associated with the wonderful person she's going to be.

  But I also think you might be able to come up a variation of Mildred that is still honors your grandmother, but is a little more modern.  Hmm... Millie, Milly, Mil...   It comes from Mildthryth or Mildđryđ, both of which are Old English and uniquely spelled.

[hildare]

ddcc to say i love it.  i loooove grandma names.  my dd has a grandma name, one that is quite similar and it's wo-one-derful.  no one else has that name, like the Mabel in the post above. 

i highly encourage grandma names. 

[berry987]

Thanks for more input! As for her middle and last name - let me just say that Mildred is the prettiest of the three (think along the lines of Hortense Klopper). There is nothing feminine or pretty about her full name. I don't know - we're going to have to think on this some more. It's kind of growing on me, but I have trouble loving it because we spent years as kids joking about how horrible her name was (I remember my brother pretending to vomit and saying "mildred" at the same time....like it was the sound of vomit hitting the floor. charming.) But, then again, maybe her name deserves some honoring after that kind of treatment!

[Katico]

Did she have a favourite flower?  My grandmother's name has already been "dibbed" by a cousin (and that's okay because it's a bit of a mouthful) and I really didn't like her middle name....so I am giving some thought to using Iris as this baby's middle name.  My Nan died this Spring and when I think of her, I always think of her beautiful garden and her iris beds, her favourite flower - she grew dozens of varieties of them. 

[Abraisme]

I like the idea of using the grandmother's name, or another version of it (did she go by a nickname?).  My DD has my grandmothers name as her middle and I think this new baby will have dh's grandmothers name. 

[dashley111]

Im naming our daughter Betty after my grandmother and I get flack ALL the time for it being old fashioned not a "pretty" name.  BUT, old fashioned is in right now- if you want to honor your grandma give her the middle name!  Chances are she wont be the only one.  And if she hates it, then she doesn't have to use it.  Realistically people with harsh names never recognize them as that because it has always been their name (and this is coming from someone whose name would make you laugh, and is not really Ash btw, haha).

[jasmin85]

Go with what you like!  I'm sure it can grow on you, and who knows, it may be up and coming again!  ;)

Plus, Stella is a super cute name.  I like the sound of Milly, but not following Stella.  Hmm, Stella Mildred.  What's your last name?

[jbk21]

DASHLEY111!!! Now you HAVE to tell us your real name!  I'm so curious!
 

Originally Posted by dashley111 

Im naming our daughter Betty after my grandmother and I get flack ALL the time for it being old fashioned not a "pretty" name.  BUT, old fashioned is in right now- if you want to honor your grandma give her the middle name!  Chances are she wont be the only one.  And if she hates it, then she doesn't have to use it.  Realistically people with harsh names never recognize them as that because it has always been their name (and this is coming from someone whose name would make you laugh, and is not really Ash btw, haha).

[dashley111]

Its Dionne.  Like, the mans name.  When I sit in doctors offices they call my name and wait for somebody else to stand up- but definitely not a very pasty freckly white red headed girl.  Haha.  Sometimes I call places and they ask to speak to the real Dionne, since Im obviously not him  

[jbk21]

Oh i like it!  I would have never thought it was a man's name, maybe because I don't know anyone named Dionne?  that's silly that people react that way.  I really think it's a pretty name :)
 

Originally Posted by dashley111 

Its Dionne.  Like, the mans name.  When I sit in doctors offices they call my name and wait for somebody else to stand up- but definitely not a very pasty freckly white red headed girl.  Haha.  Sometimes I call places and they ask to speak to the real Dionne, since Im obviously not him

[Chena4]

There is nothing wrong with bringing back an old name. We are using my husbands grandmother's name Clarice as a middle name.

[Lula's Mom]

Dionne makes me think of Dionne Warwick, not a man!

I do like old names.  I think Betty and Clarice are nice!  But, Mildred.  When I hear it, I think of DREAD. 

[Viriditas]

I think Mildred would be a cool middle name.  I like how it goes with Stella. :)  But maybe I'm weird.  Enid was on my short list for this baby...