How many middle names are too many?

So, my partner has family tradition of having all the last names of the parents, though some in the "middle" This would include two from me and two from him. That's already 4 names. Then, they also get a middle name (or two) that aren't the last names from the parents. One of my last names I dont have a big connection to, and I'd rather only use one (which he is fine with). But there is a name I love that he doesn't want as a first name but would be happy with as a middle name. We already have one middle name picked out. So right now we have 1st name, middle name, middle name, middle name, middle name, last name. We live in a place where your full name only needs to be on your birth certificate, so it's not like a huge deal for documents or something like that, I just feel at which point is too many names?

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I think it’s fair that if he gets to have his tradition that you should get to have the first name you like so the name isn’t over loaded. I personally wouldn’t do that many middle names. But I guess it depends how well they actually flow. You don’t want it to sound like a jumble of random names.

Your child has to learn to spell all those names.

@Nadia for school purposes/travel documents/etc they will be registered as only first name middle name last name. Most of the names will be just on the birth certificate, so I doubt they will have trouble learning them once they are at an age where they're dealing with their own birth certificate

@Jessica the name I like is definitely not the best for a first name and is typically for a middle name in my family which is part of the problem of so many middle names (its old fashioned and its the name of a saint, which is a part of my family tradition where each child has the name of a saint for protection).

My nan had one first and three middle names. I always loved it, she wasn’t finding it bad :) x

Ooof, I’d personally say that’s too much. I get that it’s only going to be on the birth certificate so there’s no worry about having to learn/spell/use them all but at the same time… if it’s only going to be on the birth certificate, why include it? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Could you not use the name you like instead of the other middle name you already have?

I would say two is my maximum amount my bf has two middle names but our son only has 1 lol

@Jess we really both like the other middle name we have chosen (and it's a combo of both of the grandmother's first names so it's really special too). But yeah I feel like it's too much but I already feel that way with the amount without adding my extra middle name! So I feel like one extra name is not that much hahaha

@Anja thanks! I wanted to hear from someone who had a bunch!

@Lauren Have to say I agree haha. I think two is a reasonable limit on middle names but obviously it’s hard when family tradition plays into the decision too. 😬 Maybe just stick with what you’ve got and keep the name you like for if you have another baby? X

I mean my babies have 4 so Amelia kay Michelle Porter (stillbirth 41 weeks) River Paul Leslie Porter (3 months old) The middle names are from my Mum - mother and mother in law for Amelia’s Paul - Leslie for my dad and father in law for rivers

My son has 3 middle names and my current youngest has 2 middle names I think my baby will have 2 middle names too

I had 2 middle names and I hated the issues I had with filling out forms and length restrictions. Also people always assuming it's 2 last names. When I got married I got rid of my second middle name. But I also was not super tied to my second middle name which was my mom's maiden name.

@Lauren that’s a cool tradition. Is there any others that would be fitting to use as a first. If not I guess you could just be replacing the name you weren’t bothered with adding with one of those names.