You may have gotten a small word that a few weeks ago Prince William and Duchess Kate welcomed their second baby. And like monarchs previous, the new princess received three names – Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.
Last week we, too, named our second daughter due October 1st. She also has three names and so does our first daughter. Of course in our minds our baby girls are ever as much princesses as Princess Charlotte, but that’s not why we gave them three names. Frankly, our reason is much less romantic than following royal tradition.
Being raised and living in the south, double first names are common. Some might say they’re a part of that southern charm. Long before I had my first baby girl she was named with a double name. Luckily my husband fell in love with the name, too, otherwise there would have been a fight.
When I was a teacher I had several double named little girls in my classes. Anna Kate and Ryan Ashley are two that come to mind. And inevitably their names got separated on all official school paperwork. I cannot tell you how many desk name plates I had to remake because on “Meet the Teacher” night before school started a mom would come up to me and say, “Her name is Ryan Ashley, not Ryan.” Not to mention standardized tests and permanent records.
Even though double names are popular in the south, most southerners still only give their children two names – the first and the middle – and then call them by both which leads to all the confusion mentioned above.
Well, I didn’t want any confusion. I wanted it official that our daughters’ first names are double names. And that’s why they have three – a double first name and a middle name. On my baby girl’s birth certificate her first name is her double name, and her middle name is, well, her middle name. Our baby girl due in October will be the same.
I love talking double names! What are some of your favorites?
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