how come we have middle names?

Answer 1

Apparently German immigrants brought this custom to the US in the early 19th century. They gave their children a middle name which was a spiritual name, and the first name which was just secular and one used regularly.

Answer 2

Some cultures used "given" names and "call" names - the same thing as first and middle. Many times, the given or first name was given for a family member, and the call, or middle, name was what people called them. The Germans had a tradition that the first male was named for the father, second for the paternal grandfather, third for the maternal grandfather. This got confusing, as there might be as many as 7 or 8 people in the same extended family with the same given name, so they went by the middle name to identify each.

Answer 3

I know that some middle names were the mother's maiden name, as a way of marking the connections between the families. And I agree that it is often a way for parents to try and may their child's naming unique, with out having to resort to extremely exotic names. By the way, when you promised great-Aunt Bertha or your favorite Uncle Horace that you would name your child for them, middle names come in very handy if you realize that maybe those won't make the best first names.

Answer 4

I noticed 'middle' names beginning in USA after the Revolution, although I'd seen them earlier in the form of entire mother's father's name and father's mother's father's name. Often the new style was a case of honorific namings such as George Washington Jones or Marcus (Marquis) Lafayette Short. Prior to then naming was chaotic in that populating a township with sons, grandsons, greatgrandsons & greatgreatgrandsons of for instance John Smith when they were using the naming schemes of naming for the child's grandparents had been followed for who knows how many generations. A handy Allen, Pickett or Sackett in the middle helped sort out one from among dozens. Back in the old world I suspect people weren't so mobile as in the new, so knowing whose kid is whose may have been easier.

Answer 5

It helps keep who we are clear. There are too many Mary Jones and Thomas Smith, so the middle name was included to keep names clear. With 5 billion people on the earth, it's important. Also, it is one more way to connect with family, origins or titles. It is not unusual for some people in English nobility or Spanish heritage to have three or four or five middle names. It connects them to their large family.

Answer 6

If you were baptized in the Catholic Religion, and you choose a name that was not a Saints name, then many people had to choose the second name that was a Saints name.

The other reason I think, is You wanted to name your son, after your father, and that would cause tension, between you and your in laws, so to solve it you gave the baby a second name after your father in law, or mother in law if it was a girl. Or Aunt Bedelia,because she was one of the elders..LOL

Answer 7

Mostly to honor as many family member that we owe cash to as possible. And of course to differentiate Jane Smith from Jane Elizabeth Smith. Not to mention giving the poor little Elmo Ezekiel Jasper Smith several choices of names to use when he becomes an adult and can finally leave behind his hideous nick name.

Answer 8

to differentiate between the good you and the bad you...only the bad you has a middle name :)

Answer 9

well even with all of those people i still have the same name as the television actor drew alan fuller

Answer 10

goood question.