Why a middle name?

Question

Is this an American thing?
Do all Americans do this middle name thing?
In my country you can give a child a middle name, but maybe half the people give their baby only one name.

So what's with the middle name? Is it traditional or cultural or something?
Does everybody do it?
Are there any conventions?

Thanks for the answers already!

OK, I get the passing on of a family name. It's used for the same purpose in my country.
But in that context I do not understand all the questions 'is XXX a good middle name' or 'what is a good middle name for Stephanie'.

If it's a family thing, the middle name shouldn't be a question.
It sounds like it was a family thing once and now everybody just does a middle name of their own pleasing.
Am I right?
If so, it sounds like it's original purpose has become lost and it's just something people do because they think it should be done.

If you name your baby anything other than the family name, do you give him/her a middle name? Why? Do you think it should be done?

Answer 1

A similar question was asked recently, so most of the below comments were my reply to that (for anyone finding them familiar LOL). And although it's true that many use the middle name as a place to honor family, it's not the ONLY reason middle names exist.

Tradition plays a big part, but it's also helpful -- even necessary -- to avoid credit mix-ups, tax hassles and other such issues. Even with the use of social security numbers, you'd be surprised how common such misunderstandings can be. And of course, there are the instances that AREN'T misunderstandings. Identity theft is much more likely with a common name, such as John Smith. A middle name, especially a less expected one, goes a long way in preventing it.

My own mother-in-law began using her unusual maiden name as her legal middle name after her own identity was stolen. She did have a middle name prior to changing it, but it was just one of the common fillers (Anne, Lynn, Joy, Marie, etc., with no other significance), so it did little to help against the identity theft. She hasn't had a problem since changing it, however.

Besides all that, middle names are wonderful opportunities to give the person options as they age. If their first name simply doesn't suit them, or as a way to provide an alternative to a very frilly or very masculine first name (if they don't fit the girl/woman) or perhaps allowing a boy/man to go by his more professional or more (or less LOL) unusual middle name, should he ever want to. Balance and options are never a bad idea. ;)

Ps. Forgot to mention, but besides simply being considered the norm, NOT having a middle name in today's society can actually cause even more hassles, because most official/government forms require at least a middle initial. I do know a few people who were never given one, and some have opted to adopt their own (making the legal change), while others are regularly required to use their maiden name initial (if married women) or mother's maiden initial -- whether they've kept the name legally or not -- as a filler on certain forms. It's just really not worth NOT using a middle name for a child, knowing all that.

Answer 2

This is a guess on my part. Early on when the immigrants came from ......let's say Sweden. There were so many Anderson's, Johnsons, Newgrens etc. A middle name helped differentiate between four Erik Johnson's in town.
I believe that is one reason. I am sure there are other reasons. I know people who don't have a middle name. It is not required.

My sisters husband is Dan Johnson. If you go through a phone book there are long lists of that name. If they use a middle name like Dan Emil Johnson- or Dan E. Johnson. it helps a person figure out what Dan Johnson is which.

I used middles names for my kids because that is what our family does.
My oldest son middle name is his father's middle name. My daughter's middle name is after a cousin of mine who died many years ago as a young child. MY youngest son;s middle name is my brother's first name.

In a way the name honors family.
Then other times it is just random.

America is a melting pot of traditions and cultures.
Often as humans we often don't know what or why we do things. I guess that is when something losses it special meaning and there for it is called a Tradition.

Answer 3

I'm English and i have a middle name... three in fact.
Most people don't go as far as to have three but they're the names my family gave me.
I think there are a fair few countries that give middle names to their children. Some people can't choose just one name for their child so decide to add in a middle name. Most however, just follow tradition.
Middle names can be given like first names can be to honour names of others in the family.
I don't really know how many country's do it though.

Answer 4

It is a way of passing on family names and honouring people.
Although some people have it just because or so the person can choose if they'd like to go by their first or middle name.
When people say "What is a good middle name for...." they mean that the first name and middle name sound nice together.

Answer 5

Most people give their children middle names. Some give their children several "middle" names. And on occasion, someone won't have a middle name at all. In many families I know, the middle name is a means of passing on a family name. For example, if Louise was your great-grandmother's first name, you might choose to name your child using Louise as the middle name.

Also, both sides of the family (inlaws, parents) usually like some connection to their grandchildren. So a middle name might be a means of pacifying one side if you made the other side happy with the first name.

It can be complicated....but is often simple.

Answer 6

Tradition. A lot of families use the middle name to honor others within the family, or creating a similarity, like the eldest child having the same middle name as the parent, or using the parents first name as the child's middle name.

Answer 7

the middle name tradition started years ago when children were given "middle" names honoring their Godparents by "naming" them after them. Hence if baby Rose had two God Mothers name Lily and Marie, baby Rose's new name after her Christening would be Rose Marie Lily or Rose Lily Marie.
Not everyone gives middle names, some don't practice it at all, and other give only initials. In our family the middle name is usually the name of a favorite relative. Also often boys middle names may be the mother's maiden name to keep the family name ongoing. Hence if the mother is Mary Montgomery, and the baby is Mason, then his name would be Mason Montgomery.

Answer 8

Middle names help identify people, but it not a necessity. Although it is not just an American "thing", with 300million+ people in the US it's difficult to pinpoint a person without helpful identifiers. There are some that do not give middle names, but they usually have such an unusual first name that they don't need a middle name.

John Smith is the most used name in the English language. Without middle names to help identify a particular person with that name, how would you find them?

Answer 9

No its not American. Many countries use middle names and they have for thousands of years. In ancient Rome middle names were used as the 'clan' name. They date back as far as then so I suppose it is a tradition.

Answer 10

Most people do it, but it is not necessary. I think it started as a way to recognize the Mother, as in Richard Millhouse Nixon. Millhouse was his Mother's maiden name. Over time it just evolved to what it is, people picking random names or sometimes family names that they don't particularly like, but want to carry on, so they use it as a middle name and name their child what they really like for their first name.