What is it called when people abbreviate their first name and use their middle name? Why?

Question

I would like to know why certain people abbreviate the first letter of their first name and follow it with their middle name and last name. Some examples include H. Lee Scott, J. Edward Simmons, etc.

I would like to know the reasoning behind it. Also, how would you refer to a person who has done this? By their middle name?

Answer 1

Most people do so because either they don't like their first names, can't use it, or because it is too common.

For example, a lot of men from my country in the past had the name Jose as a first name... so to differentiate, people called each other by their second names.

If I had a name like DICKHED JUSTIN SMITH, for example, i'd rather write my name as D. Justin Smith... wouldn't you?

As to how to call them, that's gonna have to differ. Depends on the person. but the fact that they're willing to drop the name completely when signing anything should be a clue to call them by their second names.

Answer 2

I "go by" my middle name. Few people on the planet know my first name, which is required only in certain legal situations. There's no name for that practice that I'd ever heard of.

When researching genealogy it's not that uncommon a practice either. For instance census - most often the enumerator asked the name & wrote it but once in a while one would ask for first name. Knowing this has often helped me find the guy who was known as Jackson or AJ but can only be found one particular census under Andrew - I've found a few of those.

Answer 3

Social Security and my employer know me by my first name, but until I was middle-aged, nobody called me by my first name because my parents named me after my mother. Usually, people abbreviate their first name because they wish to be called by their second one, but in doubt ask them. Sometimes, however, some people go only by their initials: think U. S. Grant instead of Ulysses Simpson Grant or J. K. Rowling instead of Joanne Kathleen Rowling (her publisher thought the Harry Potter series would sell better if she adopted a male-sounding name). Single women also use their initials in the telephone directory. Then again, Harry S. Truman didn't have a middle name, only a middle initial.

Answer 4

Some people prefer their middle name. Also, if a man is named for his father, the family might call him by his middle name so when his name is mentioned, he won't be confused with his father.

If a person goes by their middle name that is how I would address that person. Names are sacred to people and we should always respect how they want to be addressed and how they pronouce their name.

Answer 5

It is usually an American thing. In England it is considered rather precious. We only use one first name as in Fred Smith, not Humphrey Fred Smith and certainly not H. Fred Smith

Answer 6

maybe they like their middle name & their first name is really cheesy or baby-ish like Bob or something