Is anyone known by their second registered name rather than first? This has nothing to do with surnames.?

Question

I have three names prior to my surname. My first name is not the name I am known as and go by second name e.g. John Henry Smith is known as Henry! Therefore why not put Henry first? No-one in my family know why this is. Does anyone else have a similar issue or do you know a reason why this is eg old traditions etc

Answer 1

I don't know anyone who does this but it isn't uncommon, several U.S. presidents have done it, Eisenhower, Grant & Wilson all went by their given middle names.

Answer 2

This can happen if there are already a John in the family.  It also seems to be a Southern habit.  Several friends from the South went by their middle name.

Maybe you should ask your parents why they call you Henry.

Answer 3

my mums first name was Eunice , and she Hated it!

since she was 7 and right up till the day she died (she was 70) she was known by all by her middle name LORNA

and I'm known by all her friends as Lornas' boy! and that's pretty cool by me ! I'm quite proud of that!

Answer 4

i know two people that are known by their middle names rather than their first name. for both, it is because their parents gave them hideous first names.

Answer 5

guess it depends on where you were born.  In the US, the custom is to have a first name, a middle name and surname. Many people commonly use the middle name instead of their "first" name.  

I'd be curious as to why your parents gave you 3 names, not 2. You may have a baptismal name, in addition to the usual..

The real answer is that Henry does not go first.. because the parents choice happened to be JOHN Henry.  It is what your parents decided.

Answer 6

my brother is called william phillippe webster but we all call him phil

Answer 7

Yep, I've always been called by my middle name, and prefer to use the full name when I'm asked for it (passport etc.) so I am well accustomed to being called by the wrong name.  

I'm from a family of six   Three of us are known by the first name, and three of us by the second.  I don't know why.

Answer 8

My best friend is Albert Joe Reeve, always known as Joe.

Answer 9

My uncle was named Joseph William, but went his whole life by "Bill," and one of my brothers was named Felix (in honor of my Dad's dead brother) Joseph, and has always gone by Joey.  Go figure!

Answer 10

A girl at work is always known as Gail, but when

I gave out the pay cheques each month I noticed

that hers was S.G. Smith. Out of curiosity I asked

her what the S stood for, and she told me that she

had never liked Sandra and prefered Gail.

Answer 11

My name is Matthew Richard. Im known as Richard by most of my family and friends.

Why this is so I have know idea. My dad was the the one who named me and I've never thought to ask.... but im going to now.

Oh and just on a side note heres an odd thing. My dads name is Raymond my brother Robert Micheal ... just think how confusing the post is.

Answer 12

Yes my sister has Margaret Patricia Reid but has always been known as Patricia.

Answer 13

Yes, my maiden name was King.  My forenames begin with the letters M and H, and I am known as H.  But that was after the re-think which ensued when my parents realised that if Lizzie died and Charlie became King, H M King would not be the best name to have on the school noticeboard in hockey team lists etc.  The M name I shared with my mother, so to avoid confusion in the home when the name was shouted out, I got called H, even though M was then the first allotted name.