Why do we have middle names? what are they used for?

Question

what are middle names actually for? i've been wondering this for years....thanks for your answers in advance!

Answer 1

(WCCO) Almost all of us have a middle name, but it seems few people know why middle names exist.

It turns out the use of middle names in the United States is relatively new.

In fact, they were almost unheard of before the late 1700s. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and even Abraham Lincoln did not have middle names.

It was German immigrants who first brought the custom to the U.S. in the early 19th century.

They traditionally gave their kids two names: a spiritual one, usually named for a saint, and a secular one used to be used on a daily basis.

Secular names eventually became known as middle names and by World War I almost all Americans had one.

Today they are used for identification and to tell people apart but middle names are mostly used as a way to honor or preserve family names.

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Answer 2

When I do genealogy searches usually people don't use their middle initial or name, so I think it's a family thing, a nationality thing, or a religious thing.

When I located my grandfather's name I found he didn't always use his middle initial. His middle name was his grandfather's name. Yes, in olden times the first child had the middle name of their grandparent.

People sometimes use their confirmation name as a middle name if they have none. The purpose being to distinguish a person from another person who might have the same name so that you can locate that person in the phone book. Also is good for checking and savings accounts...and also used between father and son when they both have the same first names.

Some people use their middle name only on personal information for security purposes, never letting anyone else know that name.

Some people just feel it makes them more important to have a middle name, or they change their name to have a middle name.

Answer 3

Many names are quite common and it gets confusing if there are 3 John Browns and 4 Maria Rodriguez in the same town. With the middle name, they can be separated out.

Answer 4

Middle names were created to help youngsters develop the art of "fibbing". You see, middle names are usually so embarrassing that people invariably lie when asked what their middle name actually is. Thus you might say that middle names exist to help us develop important survival skills. Pity those without middle names.

Answer 5

Many people have the same first names, many others have the same last names. Middle names- I'd assume- are just another way to distinguish people from one another.

Answer 6

I will answer with a real thing that happens in my family:

ALL my uncles (brothers of my mother) are Carlos Fernández.

Now, to difference one Carlos Fernandez from another we call them by the middle name: Carlos Gabriel, Carlos Isidro or Carlos Petronio.

Answer 7

To increase the likeness of our name being unique.

I've found several Ben Hilliers. But I've never found a Ben Gordon Hillier

Answer 8

I guess to make the name sound better. I don't like my first but I like my middle name.

Shalom
dbd

Answer 9

Not exactly sure, however, it could help with identifying someone. example: there could be tons of Jane Johnson's.
A middle name would better help identify.

Answer 10

To let your kids know when they're really in trouble; you say their first & middle names.