My child has 4 names, (first, two middle, last.) It is zero issue. The only time it really comes up is when you have forms that say "middle initial" and then I just put the initial of the first middle name. It's very common in other cultures to have 4 names (either multiple middle or multiple last names) and it isn't uncommon in the US either as a result. Truly don't see the issue. Nobody really uses/says their middle name on a regular basis anyway, so it isn't like your child will be having to use all of these names all the time.

Anonymous wrote:I would do your kid a favor and drop the middle name. Four names is a lot and the middle name will be dropped anyway. What if they get married would their kid have 7 names?

The kid would have one last name. Try to keep up.

I would do your kid a favor and drop the middle name. Four names is a lot and the middle name will be dropped anyway. What if they get married would their kid have 7 names?

We did this with my kid's name. First-Middle-MyLastName-Husband'sLastName (First-Middle-Middle-Last). No issues so far with birth certificate, social security card, or insurance.

I would never. Drop the relative. Use one of your last names as the middle name.

I did this for myself when I got married. So my name is First Middle Middle Last name. Jane Ann Johnson Miller (Johnson is my maiden name, which is now my second middle name). It hasn't caused any problems that I know of.

Anonymous wrote:My son has four names. The Egyptian style of naming a kid. The only issue is when there is one of for a middle initial. I just use the initial in the first middle name. Has not been a big deal.

*one BOX for a middle initial.

My son has four names. The Egyptian style of naming a kid. The only issue is when there is one of for a middle initial. I just use the initial in the first middle name. Has not been a big deal.

We have 4 names, two last. Its fine.

Anonymous wrote:We did this (gave our son 4 names-first, middle, my last name, my husbands last name) it is fine. No big deal with regards to paperwork or otherwise. He thinks it's cool that he has 4 names and I like that my last name is part of his name even though we too chose not to hyphenate.

I say go for it.

We also did this, and it's fine so far (kid is almost 5). Often it's shortened to just 3 names (excluding her second middle name on paperwork, etc. where it's too long), but she knows that she has both my last name and partner's as part of her full name. At her old daycare, they somehow thought the last names were hyphenated, so on paper there she was Mary Sue Smith-Jones instead of Mary Sue Smith Jones. No biggie.

We did this (gave our son 4 names-first, middle, my last name, my husbands last name) it is fine. No big deal with regards to paperwork or otherwise. He thinks it's cool that he has 4 names and I like that my last name is part of his name even though we too chose not to hyphenate.

I say go for it.

My uncle has 9 given names, and then his last name, which is in several words. My aunts all have 5 given names.

We gave our children 3 given names, one for each of their ethnic origins, and our family name is hyphenated.

It's no big deal.

The second middle name usually just gets dropped. Sure, it's officially there but no one will use it. There's usually only one spot for a middle name/middle initial on forms and such.

We thought long and hard about this, as well. In the end, we just gave him my partner's last name because it seemed unfair to him to be saddled with such a long name. I would love him to have my name, but I don't regret the decision.

My partner and I do not have the same last name and we are having trouble deciding on whether both of our last names should be imposed on our kid. We have picked out a first and middle name (both after deceased relatives, so we want to keep those). So either we will use First Name-Middle Name-Partner's Last Name. Or First Name-Middle Name-My Last Name-Partner's Last Name. We won't hyphenate; instead, my last name would be a second middle name.

Has anyone done this? Is it a pain to have 4 names, in terms of forms and whatnot? First name and middle names are simple and two sylables. My last name is a bit more unusual and two syllables. Partner's last name is one syllable.

Thoughts?