When choosing a middle name for your baby, consider some of the most common middle names to find a familiar, well-recognized moniker that suits your child. There's a reason the following names are so popular. They're classic, have significant meanings, and pair well with most first names.
Timeless and Classic Middle Names for Girls
These timeless, classic, and common middle names for girls are popular choices among so many parents. Any of the following would make a perfect choice for a middle name for your bundle of joy.
- Amy - (French origin) Means "beloved"
- Anne - (Latin origin) Means "favor"
- Catherine - (Greek origin) Means "pure"
- Elizabeth - (Hebrew origin) Means "God is my oath"
- Grace - (Latin origin) Means "God's grace"
- Jane - (Hebrew origin) Means "God is gracious"
- Kate - (English origin) Means "pure"
- Lynne - (English origin) Means "lake"
- Marie - (Latin origin) Means "star of the sea"
- Mary - (Derived from Hebrew name, Miriam) Means "bitter" or "beloved" depending on the source of origin
- Michelle - (French origin) Means "who is like God"
- Nicole - (Greek origin) Means "victory of the people"
- Renee - (French origin) Means "reborn"
- Victoria - (Latin origin) Means "victory"
Timeless and Classic Middle Names for Boys
These common boy names are classic picks for middle monikers. These continue their reign as some of the most reoccuring middle name choices. Plenty of parents have found them to be perfect options for their little guy.
- Alan - (Celtic origin) Means "harmony" or "stone"
- Alexander - (Greek origin) Means "defending man"
- Andrew - (Greek origin) Means "strong and manly"
- Daniel - (Hebrew origin) Means "God is my judge"
- David - (Hebrew origins) Means "beloved"
- Edward - (English origin) Means "fortune"
- James - (Hebrew origin) Means "supplanter"
- Jonathon - (Hebrew origin) Means "gift from God"
- Joseph - (Hebrew origin) Means "to increase"
- Michael - (Hebrew origin) Means "who is like God"
- Peter - (Greek origin) Means "rock or stone"
- Robert - (German origin) Means "bright" or "famous"
- William - (French origin) Means "desire" or "protection"
Common Middle Names That Signify Strength
Parents hope their children will grow to be strong in their convictions, fierce when they take on challenges, and brave in the face of adversity. These names all allude to the quality of strength and make excellent middle name options for any baby.
Common Female Names Meaning Strength
Give your baby girl a nudge in the strength department by gifting her with a name filled with power, perseverance, and strength.
- Alexa - (Greek origin) Means "protector of mankind"
- Bree - (Irish origin) Means "strength"
- Bridget - (Gaelic origin) Means "strength or exalted one"
- Carla - (French origin) Means "strong"
- Dina - (Scottish origin) Means "sea warrior"'
- Louisa - (German origin) Means "fights with honor"
- Madison - (English origin) Means "strong fighter"
- Marcia - (Spanish origin) Means "warlike"
- Matilda - (Germanic origin) Means "battle" or "might"
- Nina - (Russian origin) Means "strong"
- Valerie (French & Latin origin) Means "brave" and "strength"
- Zoe - (Greek origin) Means "fighter"
Common Male Names Meaning Strength
You little guy will grow up strong and solid in mind, body, and spirit with the help of one of these common and power-packed names.
- Brendan - (Irish origin) Means "brave"
- Brian - (Irish origin) Means "honorable" and "strong"
- Caden - (Welsh origin) Means "spirit of battle"
- Emerson - (Germanic origin) Means "brave, powerful"
- Griffin - (Latin origin) Means "strong Lord"
- Harvey - (French origin) Means "battle worthy"
- Howard - (Germanic origin) Means "high guardian or "brave heart"
- Liam - (Irish origin) Means "strong-willed"
Lovely One-Syllable Middle Names for Girls
One-syllable names are succinct when it comes to lettering, but that doesn't mean they skimp on the meaning. These common, one- syllable middle names for females are short and sweet.
- Belle - (French origin) Means "beautiful"
- Beth - (Hebrew origin) Means "God is abundance"
- Claire - (French origin) Means "bright"
- Elle - (French origin) Means "she"
- Faith - English origin) Means "devotion"
- Hope - (English origin) Means "desire to be"
- Joan - (Catalan origin) Means "God is gracious"
- June - Latin name referring to the month
- Lou - (Germanic origin) Means "warrior maiden"
- Mae - (English origin) Refers to the fifth month
- Nell - (Latin origin) Means "sunray"
- Paige - (English origin) Means "young servant"
- Ruth - (Hebrew origin) Means "friend"
One-Syllable Middle Names for Boys
Your son deserves a beautiful name with lots of thought behind it. While these short, one-syllable names sound simple, they are deep in regard to meaning. These common monikers will serve as excellent middle name options if you pair them with longer first names.
- Beau - (French origin) Means "handsome"
- Blake - (Old English origin) Means "dark-haired"
- Bruce - (English origins) Means "thick brush"
- Bryce - (Scottish origin) Means "freckled"
- Chase - (French origin) Means "to hunt"
- Dale - (Old English origin) Means "valley"
- Drake - (Old English origin) Means "dragon"
- Drew - (Welsh origin) Means "wise"
- Finn - (Irish origin) Means "fair"
- Grant - (English, Scottish or French origin) Means "tall" or "large"
- Jack - (English origin) Means "God is gracious"
- Luke - (Greek origin) Means "man from Lucania"
- Mark - (Latin origin) Means "dedicated to Mars"
- Paul - (Latin origin) Means "small"
- Shawn - (Irish origin) Means "God is gracious"
Long, Recognizable Middle Names Choices
These middle name options contain many letters or multiple syllables and are loaded with significance. When combined with a short first name, they make a beautiful full name for baby boys and girls.
Lengthy Middle Name Choices for Girls
If your future daughter has a short and sweet first name, you might consider giving her a lengthy middle name to balance the whole title out. These middle names are long in letters, easily recognizable to most, and have really beautiful meanings.
- Abigail - (Hebrew origin) Means "joy of the father"
- Adeline - (Greek origin) Means "noble"
- Alexandra - (Greek origin) Means "defender of the people"
- Anastasia - (Greek origin) Means "resurrection"
- Brianna - (Latin origin) Means "exalted"
- Caroline - (Latin origin) Means "beautiful woman"
- Christina - (English origin) Means "follower of Christ"
- Isabelle - (Italian origin) Means "God is my oath"
- Josephine - (French origin) Means "Jehovah shall grow"
- Madeline - (English origin) Means "of Magdala"
- Margaret - (English origin) Means "pearl"
- Natalie - (French origin) Means "born on Christmas"
Lengthy Middle Name Choices for Boys
These middle names are long in letters or contain several syllables, making them great options to pair with a short, strong first name.
- Abraham - (Hebrew origin) Means "father of many"
- Cameron - (Scottish origin) Means "crooked or bent nose"
- Christopher - (English origin) Means "Christ-bearer"
- Dominic - (Latin-American origin) Means "Lord"
- Frederick - (English name derived from the Germanic name: Friedrich) Means "peaceful ruler"
- Gabriel - Means "God is my strength"
- Harrison - Means "Son of Henry"
- Nathaniel - (Hebrew origin) Means "God has given"
- Sebastian - (Latin origin) Means "venerable"
- Theodore - (Greek origin) Means "a divine gift"
- Timothy - Biblical name meaning "person who honors God"
Well-Known Middle Names Based in Nature
Nature is packed full of beauty, which means any name you borrow from the natural world will make a divine middle name choice. While some nature names are unique and less commonly heard, these nature-inspired names hold a perfect balance between interesting and well known to most.
Nature-Based Middle Names for Girls
These nature-based middle names are wonderful options for any parent looking to be inspired by the natural world in their naming mission.
- Amber - (English origin) Means "hue of yellow"
- Autumn - (Latin origin) Means "of the woods"
- Brooke - (English origin) Means "small stream"
- Celeste - (Latin origin) Means "heavenly body"
- Daisy - (English origin) Referring to a specific flower species
- Dawn - (English origin) Means "daybreak"
- Eve - (Latin origin) Means "life" or "animal"
- Hazel - (English origin) Means "hazelnut tree"
- Holly - (Old English origin) Means "to prick" and refers to the bush of the same name
- Ivy - Female name that refers to the plant of the same name
- Leigh - (Hebrew origin) Means "meadow" or "pasture"
- Lily - (English origin) Referring to the lily plant
- Pearl - (Latin origin) Means "pearl"
- Robin - Name of common bird, means "bright fame"
- Rose - (English origin) Referring to the rose flower
- Willow - (Old English origin) Means "willow tree" or "freedom"
Nature-Based Middle Names for Boys
There are plenty of beautiful boy names that stem from elements in nature. Do any of these common nature names pique your interest?
- Ashton - (English origin) Means "ash tree place"
- Bentley - (English origin) Means "meadow with coarse grass"
- Clay - (English origin) Means "someone who lived near or worked with clay"
- Forrest - (English origin) Means "forest dweller"
- Heath - (English origin) Means "someone who lived on the moor"
- Jay - (English origin) Means "to heal" and is also the name of a common bird
- Keith - (Scottish origin) Means "woodland, forest"
- Leo - (Latin origin) Means "lion"
- Reed - (English origin) Means "red-haired" or "grasslike plants that grow in wet spaces"
- Rowan - (Irish or Scottish origin) Means "a tree with red berries"
Middle Names Based on Southern Style
Warm, inviting, and comforting are all words that come to mind when you think of the south. These common middle names all have that southern charm parents adore.
Trendy Middle Names for Southern Sweethearts
These sweet, southern middle names are darling options for any little gal.
- Abigail - (Hebrew origin) Means "cause of joy"
- Annabelle - (Latin origin) Means "lovable"
- Bailey - (English origin) Means "enforcer"
- Betty - (English origin) Means "God is my oath"
- Charlotte - (French origin) Means "free man" or "petite"
- Georgia - (Greek origin) Means "farmer"
- Harper - (English origin) Means "harp player"
- Savannah - Name of a large city in Georgia, means "grassland without trees"
- Scarlett - (French origin) Means "red cloth vendor"
- Sue - (Anglo-Saxon origin) Means "continue"
Trendy Middle Names for Strapping Southern Boys
These adorable middle name options inspired by southern culture will capture any parent's attention.
- Connor - (Scottish origin) Means "wise"
- Davis - (Welsh origin) Means "son of David"
- Duke - (English origin) Means "leader"
- Hayes - (English origin) Means "someone who lived near an enclosure"
- Parker - (French origin) Means "keeper of the park"
- Rhett - (Dutch origin) Means "advisor"
- Sawyer- (English origin) Means "one who saws wood"
- Taylor - (French origin) Means "cloth cutter"
- Tucker - (English origin) Means "person who softens fabrics"
Common Middle Names That Begin With a Vowel
There is something about a name that begins with a vowel that is simply lovely. These names begin with vowels, and all make wonderful choices of common middle names for babies.
Female Names That Begin With a Vowel
These are some of the prettiest, most common names for little girls that start with a vowel.
- Ada - (German origin) Means "nobility"
- Alice - (German origin) Means "noble"
- Amelia - (German origin) Means "to work"
- Audrey - (English origin) Means "noble strength"
- Ava - (Hebrew, Latin or Germanic origin) Means "life" "bird" "water" "island"
- Eleanor - (Greek or French origin) Means "shining light"
- Erin - (Irish origin) Means "from the island to the west"
- Evelyn - (English origins that stemmed from French or Germanic language) Means "desired" or "water island"
- Olivia - (Latin origin) Means "olive tree"
Male Names That Begin With a Vowel
While the meanings and origins of these vowel names for boys differ, they all have one thing in common: they make ideal middle name choices for a little lad.
- Aaron - (Hebrew origin) Means "high mountain"
- Adam - (Hebrew origin) Means "son of the red earth"
- Arthur - (Welsh origin) Means "bear"
- Ethan - (Hebrew origin) Means "strong"
- Ian - (Scottish origin) Means "the Lord is gracious"
- Issac - (Hebrew origin) Means "laughter"
- Oliver - (Germanic origin) Means "olive tree"
- Oscar - (English or Irish origin) Means "God spear" or "deer lover" or " champion warrior"
- Owen - (Welsh origin) Means "young warrior"
Choosing a Middle Name
Pick a name that makes you smile when deciding on a middle name for your baby. Try a few middle name options out before landing on "the one." Pair it with the first name you've selected and with your last name. Do all three names flow, and are the initials suitable together? You can't go wrong with a classic, common, yet meaningful middle name for your son or daughter.
