WHY AMERICANS HAVE MIDDLe names?

Question

tell me the reason behind it

Answer 1

I dont know, I have one, I just though it was normal until i say your question, I hope someone knows though.

Answer 2

It started as a family naming tadition to remember their relatives. It is still typically used for the same reasons,however, some just use it to have one or because it was a negotiation between the parents who couldn't decide on a name.

Also, Americans aren't the only one with middle names. Heck, look at the Middle East.

Answer 3

I would think middle names are universal and people have different reasons for selecting a middle name. My brother's middle name is after the doctor who saved his life when he was born. Other people may choose the name of a Godparent, or relative as the middle name. I don't think it is a tradition as such just something people choose to do.

Answer 4

I'm not American, not even close, but I have a middle name. In fact I have two. I don't know why other ppl have middle names, but I can tell you I have mine because my parents wanted me to have a name from both my sides. My mom's side is Christian and my dad's side is Indian, so my first name was gotten by my parents sitting down and having a looong talk until they finally agreed on something, then, the whole family decided on a Christian middle name and an Indian one.

Answer 5

It's historically been a way to honor both sides of a family by giving the baby the first name of someone on one side (paternal side if it's a boy and maternal side if it's a girl), and a middle name from someone on the other side. Over time though people have stopped naming children after family members and have just gone for names they like - but the tradition of a middle name has continued.

OK - I just made that up but it sounds like pretty good logic doesn't it??

Answer 6

Not just americans have middle names

Answer 7

I don't know the exact reason, but several years ago I had to take my daughter to the hospital for stitches. As I was registering her I had to give her middle name because another little girl with the same name and spellings for first and last names and same birthday was registered. The only difference between the girls was the middle name. As it turned out, I also worked with the other Lily's father too...how weird is that?

Answer 8

I would say to more define the person... I'm sure there are alot of Steve Smiths out there, but how many have Harold (for example) as a middle name? I bet it helps with common names all the time.

Answer 9

Many cultures use the mothers maiden name as what we would call a middle name so, a name might be Rosa Serra Gomez. Here in America we do not do that and that is way we have middle names.

Answer 10

It helps separate all the John Smith's; ie. there are many common names and middle names help sort out who is who. Speaking of which, it also gives the child a chance to choose what he is called, not everyone likes their first name.

Answer 11

for one of three reasons, i believe. 1)they couldnt choose between names, they like more than one 2)each parent gets to choose one of the names, so its fair(my mom chose my middle and my dad chose my first) 3)to honor a family member by using their name as the middle name(parents might not like that name for the first name)