My grandaddy refused to give his daughters middle names, because he knew they were just going to end using their last name as a middle name when they got married anyway.
Recently I've been idling wondering, what is the point of a middle name in the first place? Unless it's to name the child after a relative or as a double name (like Anna Grace), but if it's just a middle name for the sake of a middle name, why bother? Very few people use their middle names and unless you go by it, people rarely know each other's middle names.
Don't get me wrong, I love my middle name, but the primary reason I love it is because it is my grandmother's name and I share it with some of my cousins.
Don't give me some offended answer, it just a question that I would love to hear your thoughts about.
2012-06-23T20:49:21Z
I guess what really got me thinking about it is all these people looking for middle names for their book characters. I mean, why does a book character need a middle name at all unless it's important to the plot?
Anonymous2012-06-23T21:01:53Z
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My parents didnt give me or my sister middle names and it's been a nightmare. When everything first became computerized, the field for middle names had to be filled. So the DMV people would just type in a random letter. So I have aliases I've had to explain to mortgage companies, the DMV, credit bureau and during background checks for jobs. All because my parents though it would be great to not give me a middle name. Then, when I got married the first time, I hyphenated my last name since my father only had daughters. So I still didnt have a middle name. Meanwhile, doctors offices and various other places misfiled my records by separating my name into middle and last names when it was only one name. In order to get a middle name now, I have to pay for it. And go to court. And I am on the road 21 days at a time with my job. So it annoys me that I should have to do all that just because my parents were stupid. My sister also didnt get a middle name. And she went to court when she was 16 to get one. She wanted my fathers middle name which was Lee, to be her middle name. But at the last minute she changed her mind and got her first name hyphenated to include Lee. Then she married a guy whose last name is Lee. So her name is ******-Lee Lee. And she still doesn't have a middle name. Please just give your kid a middle name. You have no idea how something so simple can cause so many problems when you don't have one.
I guess the MAIN reason is, for example, there are a million John Smith's, and a middle name can help differentiate between them.
My great-granny had twelve kids, and didn't give any of them middle names. I don't see a problem either way. I just think it's a little overrated/ridiculous to give a kid two or three middle names.
There is no use that is why some has a middle name and some doesn't. But sometimes having a middle name sounds really prestigious and it gives you more of an unique identity. I have a friend called Thomas Edgar Potter. Very unique and sounds very prestigious, it kind of implies that he is a man of great academia.
I agree...Middle names should be used to name your child after someone or something. If you just putting a name there because you think you need it then forget about it.