Surname names are popular, and I have a new one to consider for a girl: Middleton.
The rhythm and sound are similar to Madison, and Middie is a workable nickname, and now there’s a nice princess association because of Kate Middleton—without the name being at all “princessy.”
What do you think? Remember, the point of a “name to consider” isn’t so much “Is this name to my own personal tastes?” as it is “Does this seem like A NAME, with potential for use by people whose naming style it WOULD be?”
Sorry, but I really don’t like it. It might be because I’m not a huge fan of surnames as first names (I don’t automatically dislike all of them though) but I think Middleton, especially this year, screams “trying too hard”. There would be an obvious connection to Kate and although she is a perfectly respectable role model, I would not want the “it’s good to marry up” association to be such an inherent part of my child’s name. But I think I’m wayyyyyyy overanalyzing now. The sound itself is pretty.
Now that I think about it…. Diana’s maiden was Spencer, yes? I wonder around what year it became popular as a first name and if it had anything to do with her officially becoming a princess.
To me, it sounds nice the first time, but then I immediately associate it with “middling”, which isn’t as nice. Believe it or not, I had already given thought to this before you posted.
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As a first name? Nah. But if it were a family name I might use it in the middle name position. I would actually want to avoid the Kate Middleton association though.
Re-reading my comment, and I think I may have been too influenced by my personal tastes. Let me try this again :P
“Does it seem like a name with potential for use by people whose naming style it would be?”
In my humble opinion, as long as the first association is to Kate, it should not be used. I don’t think that naming a child after someone who is almost exclusively known for marrying well is appropriate.
Better? :)
I don’t think it works because it starts with the word Middle. Middle isn’t a bad word by any means, but it doesn’t have the most positive associations. It’s like naming your kid Averageton.
It’s a bit weird to me, mostly because I’m in WI, and Middleton and Madison are connected cities.
Horrible as a first name for a boy or girl. NN could become “Middie” — not too bad for a girl but not workable for a boy. If the entire name is used for a boy– Middleton Jones — the name sounds very pretentious. Fine as a middle name if there’s some reason to use it — family or geographical connection.
I’m excited about the forthcoming royal wedding of Prince William Arthur Philip Louis and his lovely Kate, with the equally lovely and regal given name – Catherine Elizabeth. Plenty of fine names there for parents looking to the prince and his bride for naming inspirations.
(Kate’s parents — Michael Francis and Carole Elizabeth — named their younger children Philippa “Pippa” Charlotte and James William. The names in the Middleton family will fit in well with the Royals, even if their background is more ordinary.)
I can’t see it being a first name, but I actually think it might work as a middle name… As long as people don’t think it’s weird to have the name “middle” as a middle name.
In regard to Naomi’s wondering about the name Spencer and Princess Diana née Spencer, that name has been in the SSA Top 1000 every year they have documented (1880 on) and doesn’t seem to have been greatly influenced by the popularity of Winston Spencer Churchill during WWII or years later, of his relative Lady Diana Spencer.
As for naming a baby something to do with Kate Middleton’s name, I agree that one is not a role model just because she marries well, but look at the sources for many other names that suddenly become popular, eg. vampires from popular fiction. Kate will soon be a princess, so I guess using one of her names — not Middleton, but Catherine, Elizabeth or Kate — is just as likely as naming a girl the name of a Disney princess. And with one of Kate’s names, a girl would get a lot of history and choice of role models.
Rereading Swistle’s post, I don’t think naming a girl Middleton would bring a princess association with it. What princess would allow anyone to call her by her surname? :-)
I like the sound of it. It’s like Carrington but less snotty. I associate Kate Middleton with poise and grace in the face of huge pressure to be perfect, and I think it’s William who’s marrying well.
Bravo, Melissa! I hadn’t thought of their engagement that way — and you’re right!
Hmmm. I would associate it with towns and cities, as almost every state has a Middleton, or a Middletown. It also reminds me of Milton. In a good way, but it also makes it more of a masculine name…
I think it would make a better nm than a first name. If I ever met a little Middleton, boy or girl, it would probably not faze me.
I agree with the above commentor – it sounds like “Middle town”, or in my opinion, a lazy or “hick” pronunciation of “middle of town”. I kind of like “Middie” though.
I agree with the first poster – it sounds like it is trying too hard. That was my immediate thought too. And for some reason, Middie as a nickname reminds me of “Stuck in the middle with you.” And “Middle of the road.”
To Patricia “What princess would allow anyone to call her by her surname?”
Sarah Fergusson perhaps? ;-)
I think “Midge” could be a cute nickname!
If I just think of the word middleton, I immediately think of the word “singleton” as in only-child. Wonder if this would be confusing…like people would think you were referring to a middle child in general and not a person named Middleton.