"filler" middle names

[tunknut.livejournal.com]

I've heard this term thrown around the community a lot, but what specific names do you consider to be "filler" middle names?  Here are some that come to mind off the top of my head:

Ann(e)
Grace
Hope
Lee/Leigh
Elizabeth
Mae/May
Marie
Rose

Comments

[lustdumpster.livejournal.com]

nicole.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I think any name used just because it sounds nice could be considered a filler name. On the flip side, any of those names listed could be NOT a filler name, if they have some meaning or significance. So if someone uses Marie because it sounds good between the first and last name, it's a filler name. If someone uses Marie because it was their grandmother's name, it's not a filler name.

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with this. My youngest daughter's middle name is Grace and we chose it because of the religious significance for us. We intended it to be a benediction and a reminder of God's grace and love. I get a little upset to see it constantly referred to as a "filler!" We thought about using it as a first name, but...I loathe nicknames and it's difficult to avoid Gracie. Anyway, thanks for the thoughtful perspective! :)

[karatelunch.livejournal.com]

agreed. Myself and two of my cousins have the middle name Marie in honor of our grandmother.

[sexxie-dork.livejournal.com]

Yes, this.

My middle name is Marie because it's my Grandmother's first name and I plan on passing that name on to my daughter (if I ever have one).

[nothingbuthp.livejournal.com]

Agreed, my middle name is Marie after three family members named Mary.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

I really like the vast majority of these names, but I can see why they're considered filler names. Jean and Jane are others, although I like them too. A lot of one-syllable names, or shorter multi-syllable names like Marie or Anna.

For me, I am somewhat likely to use several of those names as middle names, but they would be honouring someone I know, as well as because I just happen to like the names. It kind of sucks because you can't ever tell when they're filler and when they aren't, unless you know the person, and so I might look just as uncreative or whatever as someone who picked Anne as a middle name because it sounded good, whereas I'm using it for a reason.

[ghetto-lonetto.livejournal.com]

Lynn seems like a common one.

[amyames.livejournal.com]

my middle name-lynne is definately a filler name most of the time.

[freezemyazaleas.livejournal.com]

Renee
Rae/Ray

[jyl-mac.livejournal.com]

There are so many filler Marie middle names it makes me ill.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

Um, basically all those on that there list, minus Grace and Hope. The only people that I know with those middle names, it's because they're extremely religious, so they're not filler, they have a lot of meaning to them.

Marie and Rose, to such an extreme amount.

[sexxie-dork.livejournal.com]

They're not filler if they're family names. My middle name is Marie after my Grandmother and I will pass it down if I have a girl.

[krosp.livejournal.com]

It's impossible for there to be a list of filler middle names without mine being on there :p although I spell it Maree. I did notice growing up that half my friends shared my middle name but never really cared.

A lot of people I knew had Louise. Anne and Elizabeth were also really common. I didn't know many with Lyn, but it seems to be really common now that I've been reading about names online so maybe it's more of a US thing.

[tryyingtoevolve.livejournal.com]

See, I think they're only "filler" middle names if they are used simply because they sound good and for no other reason. For me, Anne, Grace, and Rose would be after very close family/friends so I wouldn't consider them that at all. Whereas if I used something like Nicole or Michelle, it definitely would be.

[ouronlylight.livejournal.com]

As others have said, if there's significance, it's not filler. Setting aside significance, though:

Ann(e)
Elizabeth
Grace
Jane
Lee/Leigh
Louise
Lynn(e)
Marie
Michelle
Nicole
Renée
Rose

And then, for boys:

James
Michael

I must say, though, I do love Elizabeth, Jane, and James. Jane especially seems so underrated nowadays, IMO.

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

My graduating class was 740. About 300 were girls. The middle names that were repeated were:
Ann[e] 22
Carol 2
Catherine 5
Christine 9
Elaine 4
Elizabeth 29
Elyse 3
Frances 4
Jean 6
Joy 2
Lee/Leigh 5
Lynn 14
Marie 35 (so that's like 10%)
Michelle 19
Nicole 14
Renee 6
Rose 6