What's the point of a middle name?

Question

I grew up without a middle name so I don't know why everyone gives their kids middle names. I have friends with middle names but they don't use them unless they're signing documents or something, since it's part of their legal name. What are middle names for? Parents can't decide between 2 names so they make one a first name and the other, a middle?

Answer 1

Good question.  It's just a cultural thing.  Some cultures don't use them, others do.  I suspect the use started way back many centuries ago, so parents could 'honor' a wider range of relatives and friends. (Royalty has often has a long string of names ...). My husband's middle name is his father's name.  MY middle name was to commemorate a deceased great aunt.

You certainly don't have to use one, but it's pretty common .(It would also allow the child the option of using a different name if, for some reason, he doesnt' care for his given name. We selected a fairly common middle name for our daughter, since her first name is slightly unusual.)

Answer 2

i really dont know. it is probably since they cant decide between 2 names but idk

Answer 3

to honor someone or just to sound nice

Answer 4

I don't have a middle name.

Most people with middle names don't use them. Some of them may use the middle initial professionally, but other than that, there's really no point.

I guess we're all the more unique then!

Answer 5

I know I don't have a middle name either  

Answer 6

a middle name can distinguish between two people with the same first and last name. paul david jones or paul michael jones.

Answer 7

I can't speak for everyone but in my family middle names are a family name. For example, my middle name is my grandmother's name. But my parents wanted a cute, modern name for our first name. So lets say your grandfathers name was Fred, you might not want your child to be named Fred so you give it to him as a middle name so you still represent your grandfather and at the same time give him a more popular name such as Michael.

Answer 8

I also don't have a middle name.

There are many reasons why they give them a middle name:

1.) To honor a family member or friend.

2.) They couldn't decide between two names.

3.) A compromise between the parents. Mom picks first, dad picks middle, and vice verso.

4.) A family tradition.

5.) To balance out both names [first name is unique, middle name is common]

6.) They want the child to like their name, so if the child doesn't like their first name then they can use their middle name. Or vice verso.

xox- Julie

Answer 9

Or they want to honor someone in their family.

Or so the child can decide which name they want to go by.