middle name?

Question

any one knows the purpose to have "middle name"? any special meaning? Is it like nickname? Thanks for help!

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

Your middle name is not the same as a nickname. It is part of your legal name but not everyone has one (or more!). Most parents use them if they like more than one name and want to include the one(s) that weren't picked as the first name. Sometimes names are picked as they 'go' nicely together. Sometimes people think it makes a good impression to have a lot of names.

They are also commonly used to keep a family name going or to honour relatives or parents by including their name. My middle name is Jane for the simple reason that my parents liked it but it's not a name that is ever used. It's just something I have to write on forms sometimes! On the other hand my sister's middle name is the same as my mum's first name. My mum's middle name is the same as her aunt's first name.

My son's middle name is the same as the first name of an uncle on his father's side who died just before he was born. We gave him that name to try and cheer up his paternal grandmother a bit (in the sense that her brother's name will continue in the family).

Middle names are rarely used for much...

BarbaraPA · Answer

Middle names are rarely used for much...

Sure they are Nona! At least in the U.S., it's how you know your mother is made at you! "Barbara Joan, WHAT is this mess on the floor?!" "Rebecca Judith, did you just hit your sister?!"

Anonymous · Answer

thank you for these details!!

Aimjo · Answer

it clears my question now. Thanks a lot!

Anonymous · Answer

That was informative, but my understanding was that a middle name is put to remind the family's father's side and no other "sides" are covered (eg, the uncle's side or an "arbitrary" side).

Mister Micawber · Answer

Not at all, Anon-- at least in the US.  Mine was coined.  Many are fanciful.

Nona the brit · Answer

No the SURNAME (last name/family name) is traditionally the same as the father's surname and you'll find that this is the case for 99% of British/American people. Sometimes children take the mother's surname instead.

But different countries have different naming traditions. Within Europe I can think of several. In Iceland, for example, your surname is your father's first name plus 'dottir' if you are his daugher or 'son' if you are his son. So children have different surnames to their parents. A Magnus Erikson would have a daughter with the surname of Magnusdottir and a son with the surname of Magnusson).

Perhaps you are thinking of a specific country with the naming tradition that you mention; you can't apply it to all countries and cultures though.

middle name?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions