literary names & two middle names

[chadwah.livejournal.com]

1. Since fandom names came up recently, I've been thinking about literary ones.  What are your favorite literary names?  Least favorite? 

We're considering Hazel for a girl, and the middle names I've been mulling over are Jane (as in Jane Austen, we're both big fans, and Jane is a form of my mom's name and his grandma's name), but also wondering if Hazel Anne Elliot (Anne Elliot is the main character in Austen's "Persuasion", and I wrote my undergrad thesis partly on T.S. Eliot) is too cumbersome to work.  

2.  Which leads me to number 2, how do you feel about multiple middle names?  In some cultures, I know (Spanish, Polish, Italian), they're a lot more common, but what about in an English-speaking context?  Is it only acceptable if its for the sake of squeezing in a family name?

Comments

[morphinae.livejournal.com]

Please refer to the community rules regarding double posting. It's a slow morning, I won't delete or anything, but please become aware. Thanks!

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

I'm actually sort of a fan of the growing two-middle-names trend. I don't have personal experience with it, so I can't say what paperwork problems, etc., might result, and that's something to consider. But as far as the names themselves, I think it's a great way to sneak in a guilty pleasure name, ugly family name, or "extra meaning" name.

In a way I think two middle names is an inevitable trend. Middle names evolved, at least in part, as a way to differentiate between people in a growing population. So you could have Jennifer Anne Miller and Jennifer Marie Miller, instead of two Jennifer Millers. The population, of course, has continued to grow, so that Jennifer Anne Miller may not be specific enough anymore; it makes sense to have Jennifer Anne Marie Miller and Jennifer Anne Lynette Miller.

Also, people are generally having fewer children, so two middle names gives them an opportunity to use more of the names they like. In the olde days, if there were four girls' names you really liked, you could simply use them on your four daughters. These days you'll probably need to cram them into one or two! (Though if you choose to have four, eight, or twelve, I'm behind you. Big families for the win!)

[a-tergo-lupi.livejournal.com]

I don't like the two middle name thing. Where it's normal? Fantastic. Here? It's a pain.

[how-obscure.livejournal.com]

I don't really have any names on my list that stand out as being literary.

Hazel Jane is a very nice combo, but I also find myself really liking Hazel Anne Elliot.

I like seeing multiple middle names. However, I know it can be a pain on forms and such.

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

I have two middle names (as does my brother) and I've never felt it to be a hassle with official documents or what have you.

My daughter has one middle name but the name DH and I like for a future son includes two middles (Miles Albert Phineas)

In regards to Hazel Anne Elliot, I think it's cute. I don't think as many people have read Persuasion as they have other Austen novels so I don't think as many would get the connection as if you named her Hazel Elizabeth Bennet or Hazel Marianne Dashwood.

[chadwah.livejournal.com]

The Bennett/Dashwood thing would be hard also, since they sound exclusively surname-like to me, while I can see Elliot as a personal name (even for a girl), so it would sound like First Middle Last Last (and I'm not a big fan of hyphenated last names and such in general, which is what it would sound like).

[spaceandclouds.livejournal.com]

1. My favorite literary names are:
Astrid (White Oleander)
Beatriz (Beatriz y los Cuerpos Celestes)
Emily (Brontë)
Matilda (by Roald Dahl)
Dolores (Lolita – would never use it, though)
Lux (The Virgin Suicides)
Luna (Harry Potter)

Simon (Vestdijk – my favorite Dutch writer)
Holden (Catcher in the Rye)

As for 2. No, I don't mind multiple middle names at all. Here (in The Netherlands) it's common practice as well, so I didn't see it as unusual until I came here. I think in English it could work well too, but (and this goes for any language) it has to flow. I don't like Elizabeth Isabella Amelia for example. That's just too long.

[dararachel.livejournal.com]

I have a friend who named her daughter Austen after Jane Austen. :{

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I don't see anything wrong with multiple middle names. There is a limit: I personally think 4+ is too many. But I think that with any number of middle names, the names should have some sort of flow, "go" together, as it were, and that can be harder the more names you throw in.

I would just go with Hazel Elliot.

[ladyjbug.livejournal.com]

My son has two middle names. So far, it hasn't caused us any trouble, and we've gotten him a passport, health card, social insurance number (we're in Canada) without any trouble.

We chose the two names to honor Jack's grandpas on each side, as well as his father, so it really wasn't an option to go with one.

[googlebee-ohmi.livejournal.com]

My favorite literary name is Jo (Little Women) I just feel that I would need to give her a longer "girlier" name or a more feminine middle name.

I have no issues with double middle names. One of my favorite girl names is Ivy Helena Mary. It has always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I do think that there should be a limit unless it is cultural and you are part of that culture. My aunt has many Hispanic students and they tend to have multiple middle names - but since that is so culturally ingrained I think that it would be strange for someone else to try and replicate.

[pegasus2o5.livejournal.com]

Ivy Helena Mary is GORGEOUS.

[lilacmermaid.livejournal.com]

A few literary names I like:

Anne (of Green Gables)
Minerva (Harry Potter)
Elizabeth, nn Lizzie (Pride & Prejudice)
Elinor, Margaret (Sense & Sensibility)
Cordelia, Juliet (Shakespeare)

I don't like a lot of male literary names, for some reason (or I don't think of the names as literary, even if there are characters/authors with these names).

I don't generally like two middle names. My brother has two, honouring my dad and grandfather, but other than that I'm not a fan. In the example you're considering, I think Hazel Elliot would be better than Hazel Anne Elliott. That way you're covering both of the people/characters, but you don't have someone's full name within your child's name, if that makes sense.

[becomingun.livejournal.com]

I have two middle names :)

I'm Georgia Christine Anne F_____. I love having two middle names, personally, and I plan for my kids to have two middle names. I think it sounds pretty, it looks pretty, and speaking from experience, it's never made paperwork difficult, I just omit Anne and I've never had a problem. I was told that if it leaves room for only one middle initial to give your first middle name. And I'm Canadian.

I also grew up with a friend who had five middle names and ALL her names, including her first and last, were pretty long. Strangely, it worked on her. She was spunky enough to pull it off. i think it was Alexandra Samantha Cassandra Leanna Miranda Antonia. I THINK. I remember because she used to tease teachers with it, haha. I probably have the order wrong.

I also had no idea it was that unusual and that so many people disliked the idea... I always thought a lot of people did it and that it was pretty normal. A LOT of my close friends have two middle names...

Hazel Anne Elliot is PERFECT in my opinion. I adore the way it sounds and I would use it myself in a heartbeat.

And I have too many favourite literary names to list them all.

[kaoriz.livejournal.com]

Lyra from His Dark Materials is one of my favorite literary names, along with many mythology names like Persephone and Hera. I also like some of the names from Shakespeare like Helena and Ophelia.

I think Hazel Anne Elliot is a very pretty name.

Andddd I like multiple middle names. :)

[duckduckcaboose.livejournal.com]

Some of my favorite names are definitely inspired by characters or writers. Landon, which has been a favorite of mine for a long time, I got from Nicholas Sparks' "A Walk to Remember"

My father, his brothers, my 18-year-old sister, and I (I'm 21) all have 2 middle names. But my dad is Italian-American and his mother was born in Italy so I suppose that could be a part of it. I plan to continue the tradition.

[ringsandcoffee.livejournal.com]

I used to really dislike the name Jane, but since becoming an Austen (and Bronte and Gaskell) fan, I would love to use it as a middle name. Miranda Jane is a current favorite.

Lit names I like: Caroline, Elizabeth, Lydia, Charlotte, Adele
Lit names I dislike: Kitty, Fanny

[wolfbane.livejournal.com]

I have two middle names and it's really not a problem. Most of the time I leave my second one out on forms and such, or I just use both initials. I don't think it's necessary but as long as the names aren't too cumbersome, it can be a good way to spruce up a name or include another name that you love.

[frost.livejournal.com]

2. I don't like the multiple middle name thing. *shrugs*

[coffeecup37.livejournal.com]

I quite like multiple middle names, possibly because of my love for names so I just want to give my kids lots of them! I also feel like it makes their name that bit more unique, because you're less likely to come across other kids with the exact same first and middle names. I was in a class at university with another Samantha Jade and I felt quite put out by it! Silly as it seems, I know. With billions of people in the world and all...

Anyway, as for literary names, my favourite novel is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons and the main characters are Alexander and Tatiana. Loved Alexander prior to reading it but Tatiana/Tatia is on my list now because of it.

Love Hazel Anne Elliot, btw.

[j0yous.livejournal.com]

My favorite literary names are Willa (Cather) and Milo (The Phantom Tollbooth).

[sailorgoodbye.livejournal.com]

One of my mother's friends when she was little had one name for every letter in the alphabet. No joke! THAT would be a hassle!

As I live in Finland it's kind of usual to have several names, my grandma has it, mom, me & my brothers. Several generations back in my family we've had them.. so Im just going to continue. I like it!