How Many Names are Too Many for a Baby? Parents Weigh In

When it comes to naming a baby, the number of names can be a hot topic among parents. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and opinions vary widely on how many names are too many.

Traditionally, one middle name was the norm, but times have changed. Many parents now opt for two middle names to honor family members or incorporate meaningful names. For some, even three middle names seem reasonable as long as the names balance well and hold significance.

However, practical considerations come into play. Official documents often have limited space, and lengthy names can lead to complications.

How many names is too many?

Richard, “You can give your child any number of names until the nurse gets tired of writing them down or until you run out of space.”

Johnson, “Once, I processed a name change request where someone listed 24 different female names. The judge crossed out most of them, allowing only the first, last, and two middle names.”

Liam, “The universe doesn’t care about your preferences; it cares about what fits on the form the nurse has to fill out. Cry all you want, but the reality is reality.”

Elizabeth, “The longest real name I know is Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David (Windsor), also known as King Edward VIII and later the Duke of Windsor. The longest fictional name I’ve heard is His Royal Highness Christopher Rupert Windemere Vladimir Karl Alexander François Reginald Lancelot Herman Gregory James, from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella (1997 version).”

Pedro, “I know people with double surnames who’ve dropped one part, though that’s more common in Spanish naming customs than with hyphenated names.”

Grayson, “I think it’s all about balance. My cousin’s daughter has three names, and it fits her perfectly. But my neighbor’s son? They gave him seven names! He’s practically got a name for every day of the week. I can barely remember his first name, let alone the rest!”

Aria, “My kid has 4 but it’s a tradition in my husband’s family. It’s a bit much tbh.”

Lexiem, “I believe simplicity is key. One or two meaningful names should suffice. I once met a girl with five names—her parents said it was to honor all her grandparents. It’s sweet, but imagine filling out forms with that mouthful every time!”

Luna, “5 names is too much, they are going to sound like a law firm”

Bosch, “More than 3 names I think is too much. The only time all the names are going to be used is on official forms, and you’re probably going to run out of room on drivers licenses, passports, credit cards, etc”

Pulp, “Will be a major pain in the a** to fill out any form and they’ll be mad at you about it”

Broadway, “Pick up a standard form for school registration or a driving license and see if the name fits. If it doesn’t fit, it’s too long. I personally (as someone with a long name) think 6 names is too much.”

Berlin, “Yes, that’s too much. I draw the line at 4 total, which includes a hyphenated last name.”

Booch, “My husband has three middle names. We literally had trouble booking our honeymoon because of it. Please don’t do this to your kid.”

CreativeMom: “Elon Musk’s child, X Æ A-12, definitely takes the cake for out-of-the-box names! It’s unique, but I wonder how it’ll play out as they grow up. Pronunciation and paperwork might be quite the adventure. I think this will probably be the case for kids with longer names”

Nathan: “As a teacher, I’ve seen kids struggle with long names in class. One of my students had five names, and it always took extra time during roll call.”

HappyDad: “Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, has a long name, but it’s fitting given his royal heritage. For regular folks, I’d say stick to one or two names to keep life simpler.”

Wrap Up

Ultimately, the number of names a baby should have depends on what feels right for the parents while considering the future ease for the child. Balancing sentimental value and practicality is key to making this decision.

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