I think its a lovely gesture. Both my sons middle names are named "for people". DS1 has two middle names, the first for my DH's uncle, the second for my brother (both are dec.) DS2 also has two middle names the first is just a name that we like, the second for my father and a close friend of ours who share a name. If we ever have another boy, his second middle name will be after another close friend of DH (dec), however a girl would have all her own names, although one of the middle names would be the same name as one of my friends daughter (but that's just co-incidence - both boys were threatened with that name had they been girls and DS1 is older then our friends girl).

BTW I love your name choice.