Why does everyone have a middle name?

Today, as Wilson notes, middle names serve much the same purposes they always have: they're a way to keep family names going and thus preserve relationships; they're a way to try something new or “put old names out to grass” without cutting the cord entirely.

Is everyone supposed to have a middle name?

Today, some people don't even have middle names, some prefer to be called by their middle name, and some never even use theirs. But just be grateful that we don't trace our lineage back with multiple cognomina like some aristocratic families used to and end up with 38 names.

Why some people go by their middle names?

The best explanation seems to stem from Southerners' penchant for keeping a name going down the line, especially for males. You end up with John Smith Jr., III, and IV in one family, and calling a child by his middle name is an easy way to distinguish between him and his father.

How did middle names start?

Middle names began to find favor among wealthy extended families in the late 1700s. Aristocratic families increasingly began giving their children two names, so that by the time of the Revolution a quite small but traceable number of southerners carried middle names, mainly those from upper-class families.

Is it OK to go by your middle name?

It is perfectly legal to use your middle name or even variations of your name, as long as you are not attempting to defraud anyone. However, in some situations, you will be required to use your real name, such as for licensing purposes, or it...

Why Do We Have Middle Names?

Is it OK not to have a middle name?

Do You Need a Middle Name? You absolutely do not need to choose a middle name when deciding on a baby name. Middle names are optional. You can simply choose a baby name with a first name and last name if you so desire.

What happens if you don't have a middle name?

A middle name doesn't effect a tax return. The IRS only looks at the first 4 letters of the last name. Since you do not have a middle name you would not enter anything.

Is middle name mandatory in USA?

While there is no strict rule about how many middle names a citizen can have in the US, there are limitations to the number of characters in a name in certain states. Numerical digits are prohibited by naming laws in several states.

What names are forbidden?

Can you name your child a swear word?

Derogatory or obscene names are banned in California. Only the 26 characters of the English alphabet are allowed, which rules out umlauts and others.

What is the longest name in the world?

The longest personal name is 747 characters long, and belongs to Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Sr. (b. 4 August 1914, Germany) who passed away on 24 October 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA, as verified on 1 January 2021.

Can a child have no middle name?

For many parents, middle names arise because the couple cannot decide on one name—the top two become the child's first and middle name. But, indecision between the two names also can lead to a child being without a middle name. Harry S. Truman is a famous example.

Can I have 2 middle names?

It's never been a common practice in the U.S. to give two middle names. With today's digitized records, it's become a bit of a bureaucratic mess for those who have four (or more) initials to deal with.

Is it possible to not have a last name?

Many Afghans have no surname. It is also common to have no surname in Bhutan, Indonesia, Myanmar, and South India. Javanese names traditionally are mononymic, especially from people of older generations.

Can I give myself a middle name?

However, you do not need to go through the courts to be able to create a middle name for yourself - you can simply start using the middle name. To make it legal, though, you need to go through the courts.

Whats a good middle name for a girl?

Does everyone have a middle name UK?

Middle names are optional and are rarely used in daily life. However, most British have one or multiple.

Are middle names legal?

Given name and Family name

Since a person's middle name(s) or suffix is not considered part of the legal name by SSA, a middle name shown as part of the given name or a suffix shown as part of the family name can be omitted or entered in the middle name and suffix fields of the Enumeration system.

Who has the most middle names in the world?

Hubert Blaine Wolfeschlegelsteinhausenbergerdorff Jr.

What is a unique boy name?

Can you name your child a number?

"In California, you can only use the '26 characters' of the English language in your baby name," he said. "Thus, you can't have numbers, Roman numerals, accents, umlauts or other symbols or emojis.

Can you have 3 last names?

In most states, you have the option to take your spouse's last name, hyphenate your last names, use two last names without a hyphen, or move your maiden name to your middle name and take your spouse's last name.

Can you have two first names?

A double name, or double-barreled first name, is often seen in Southern naming traditions and is when you choose two names for your little, often joined by a hyphen. It is an excellent option for those seeking unique baby names.

Who has 1000 letters in their name?

HOUSTON - CoSandra Williams says she spent years planning her daughter's name. It may take that long before the girl can say it. The 6-year-old girl has more than 1,000 letters in her first name - and a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records.