Why do we need middle names?

Question

I mean we hadly ever use them so why do we keep naming our kids with them? (Yes my two kids have middle names too I am just wondering).

That it true we do use it when we are really mad at them. I do it and so did my mom (if she used my middle name I knew I was about to be grounded) :)

Merrick: I do not know what gave you the impression that we are complaining, I am just curious as to why we have them. Congrat's you do NOT win 10 points.

One more thing Merrick, if you want one so bad why don't you go to the government office and get one, it is not that hard.

Answer 1

We actually don't need middle names, middle names originated when people would name all their children like Mary after Mary Jesus' mother, then a middle name so your children would be Mary Katherine, Mary Elizabeth...etc and they would be called by their middle names, it just was a tradition and I guess it stuck. I had a classmate whose parents did not give her a middle name when she was born, they decided that her sweet 16 gift would be to pick out her own middle name, that way she would have one she liked and had chosen. Anyway hope this answers your question.

Answer 2

I guess it is just one extra precaution when someone has the same name as you. It is also tradition. You don't have to give them a middle name if you don't want to though. If you have a last name of Smith and you don't want to give your kid an odd first name so that he will stand out, you can give a middle name that might reduce the risk of someone having the same name. Authors put their full name on books all the time for this reason.

Answer 3

Because that's the way it is. It's written on every legal documents in the US like job application, duh!

First name: Merrick
Middle name: Ching
Last name: Li

You guys should feel lucky to have a middle name. Most Chinese don't have a middle name and you guys just take it for granted. You guys should be ashamed of yourself. So stop complaining already! Just be grateful you have a middle name. I have to use my Chinese name for my middle name. The Chinese usually don't give their children a middle name. My great parents are the exception. Both my grandpa and my dad have a middle name. They give all my brothers and sisters a middle name accept me. And the reason is I am the only one in the family that have 4 Chinese names not including my last name. My dad just told my mom, "Just pick a Chinese name honey because my head hurts".

Answer 4

Middle names add identity to the person. It makes them special as people seldom have the same first and middle name.

Answer 5

My grandfather didn't have a middle name....my favorite story about him is that on some form he put "none" when it asked for his middle name...from that point forward he would periodically receive mail to Frank None Shell. I love it!

Answer 6

Helps give more detail in registration. imagine a whole room of people called jack daniels and no middle names, would be hard to get the right one

Answer 7

so people will have something to call ou if you have the same name as someone else. Also if they get in trouble they say your whole name like ashley nichole leach

Answer 8

My grandpa didn't have a middle name. I think that maybe you don't have to have a middle name but it is just common its like wiping your butt you don't have to but everyone does.

Answer 9

We don'tneed one. My husband doesn't have a middle name.

Answer 10

there are millions of same names in the world... basically so we can differentiate