Why do Americans have middle names?
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.
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.
Middle names are optional and are rarely used in daily life. However, most Americans have one or multiple. Generational suffixes may be used to distinguish persons who share the same name within a family. The most common name suffixes are senior and junior, which are abbreviated as Sr.
The practice of giving three names eventually resolved the problem with a formula: given name first, baptismal name second, surname third. It branched to America as immigrants arrived: Adopting a trio of labels became a way of aspiring to a higher social class.
German immigrants arriving in Pennsylvania are credited with being the first Americans to use middle names regularly. In the 19th century, the population boomed in the United States and Europe, and people felt they needed more names to stand out.
But the way we use middle names today originated in the Middle Ages when Europeans couldn't decide between giving their child a family name or the name of a saint. They eventually settled on naming their children with the given name first, baptismal name second, and surname third.
| Girls – USA | Boys – USA |
|---|---|
| 1. Marie/Maree | 1. Alan |
| 2. Anne/Ann | 2. Michael |
| 3. Lynn | 3. James |
| 4. Elizabeth | 4. William |
Nope. It's really up to you. In responding to our survey, 9 in 10 parents said they gave their baby a middle name – but there's no downside to going without. Some parents say no to the middle moniker based on family tradition: "I have a double first name and no middle, and my daughter will have the same," says one mom.
Eighty per cent of children are now given a middle name, compared with the 37 per cent revealed in an audit of the 1911 census. Eleven per cent of children have at least two. The main reason for the trend is the commemoration of a family member, and most are traditional.
Double names developed for social and religious reasons. The American double name tradition derives from the Scots-Irish-English, French, and German double naming traditions. The term “double name” suggests two separate entities. Double names were not originally hyphenated.
Why is the name III illegal?
III: California, United States
- Name meaning: Three, or the third. - Reason for ban: It's inherently confusing.
Along with Savannah and Jayden, other American names ranking in the US Top 100 include Brooklyn, Kennedy, Jace, Maverick, Sawyer, Serenity, and Lincoln. Some popular American baby names carry a strong American image, such as Liberty or Lincoln. Native American names such as Tallulah and Dakota certainly are in the mix.
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.
As of January 1, 1939, all Jews except for those who had typical Jewish names were required to take on new middle names: “Israel” in the case of men, and “Sarah” for women.
It is very uncommon for Japanese people to have a middle name. This concept is not followed or legally recognised in Japan, except in the names of foreigners. Japanese law requires married couples to have the same family name.
It's absolutely normal to not have a middle name. There are millions and millions of people without a middle name. They have just one given name / first name. There are others who have given names but no surname.
Most Italians do not have middle names. But, giving a middle name seems to be trending as Italian parents try to help their child 'stand out from the crowd.
Most Germans have two personal names (one that is a first name and one as a middle name) and a family name (e.g. Maria Anna SCHAFER). Surnames are passed down to subsequent generations through the father's lineage.
- 1926. Boy: Wardell (929) ...
- 1927. Boy: Estel (914) ...
- 1928. Boy: Gust (996) Girl: Hildred (998)
- 1929. Boy: Vester (984) Girl: Jettie (953)
- 1930. Boy: Otho (972) Girl: Charlsie (951)
- 1931. Boy: Early (1000) Girl: Ferne (1000)
- 1932. Boy: Dock (928) Girl: Jack (992)
- See Also...
Quick…what's the most common last name in the U.S? If you guessed Smith you are correct. According to an analysis by 24/7 Wall Street, the surname Smith occurs slightly more than 828 times per 100,000 people in the U.S., or about 2.442 million times. The name's usage has grown almost 3 percent since 2000.
How many middle names can you legally have in the US?
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.
A middle name is an important additional identifier when investigating any subject and should be used as often as possible. In most cases, by including a middle name it will help us to further identify if the information from the search matches the applicant or not.
While middle names began appearing in the late Medieval times, they were reserved only for nobility in England with an old law making them illegal for the rest of the population. Since the Pilgrims and many early settlers came from England, early American tradition included just the two names.
Nevertheless — as a person is normally called and known by something — a person will always have a name of some kind. It's possible to have a single name — that is — a first name only, and no surname (although the single name could still consist of more than one word or name).
Combinations with a J initial are by far the most popular. This may be because John and James have traditionally been very common middle names, and also because the "Jay" sound is still cool in modern names like Jacob and Jayden.
“Grandma Mary or Maria might have a contemporary namesake with the middle name Mae or Maeve.” The top five middle names for girls overall are Rose, Elizabeth, Grace, Jane and Marie. Redmond says the top five trendy middle names for girls are Pearl, Violet, Josephine, June and Beatrice.
Can I omit middle name on passport if it appears in my other documents? The answer is no. Your passport will match the details on your supporting documentation per the government standards. But you don't need to use your middle name in full and can use its initial instead.
Ten examples of prohibited baby names reportedly include King, Queen, Jesus Christ, III, Santa Claus, Majesty, Adolf Hitler, Messiah, the symbol @ and 1069. Other names that can be rejected from birth certificates are names that reference trademarked brands, according to usbirthcertificates.com.
Along with Ebba and Alba, other fashionable girl names uncommon in the US include Darcy, Imogen, Laia, and Thais. Scandinavian names are an up-and-coming trend — Sigrid, Juni, Fenna, and Leni are among the rare options we recommend.
Linda was banned by Saudi Arabia's Civil Status Department for being a name based on religious connections or because it broke from "social traditions." This is because the name is incredibly western for their country.
Can you name your child a swear word?
The law bans names that contain “obscenity, numerals, symbols, or a combination of letters, numerals, or symbols…”, but naming a child after a mass murderer is A-OK. In most cases, the United States is pretty relaxed about what you can name your child when it comes to the stigma or meaning a name may carry.
Names also cannot contain an official title or rank, which is why names like King, Queen, Sister, Lieutenant, Prime Minister and Lord are not allowed.
Laos. Laos is one of the most contested countries when it comes to pronunciation. The nation in Southeast Asia is often referred to as "Lao" (rhyming with cow), but locals say "Laos" as if it rhymes with "blouse," according to Tripsavvy.
Arabic language names have historically been based on a long naming system. Many people from the Arabic-speaking and also Muslim countries have not had given/middle/family names but rather a chain of names. This system remains in use throughout the Arabic and Muslim worlds.
In Europe, a total of ten nations lack the letter "a" in their names. Those countries are Belgium, Czech Republic, Greece, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Sweden, Turkey, and United Kingdom. In the Americas, just four countries don't have the first letter of the alphabet in their names.
Double baby names, such as Mary Kate, Anna Grace, or John Patrick, have a deep-rooted tradition in the United States — especially in the South. Using two names as a first name is a great way to honor your favorite family members or to give your child a unique, yet traditional baby name.
In some cultures, People once used it to signal social class, while in other cultures, it's simply the norm or an indicator of marriage or alliance names, mainly when used as a surname. If you choose to give your child a double-barrelled first name, a hyphen is a good practice but not a requirement.
The most popular baby names 2022 in the US are led by Olivia in the top spot for girls and Liam as the #1 name for boys. The most recent list of popular names ranks all the names given to five or more newborns born in the US in 2022.
In traditional Christian societies, it was commonplace for children to be named after various saints, because it was believed that the saint would protect a child named after him or her. It appears that the practice of naming children after saints was what eventually gave rise to middle names.
Traditionally, the British upper class has used multiple names to indicate family connections, even going so far as changing surnames to reflect these bonds. In France, it is normal for citizens to have multiple middle names, though all names except the surname are referred to as “first names” on official documents.
Are middle names a thing in Russia?
Russians do not choose their own middle name, it is created by taking their father's name and adding the ending -ovich/-evich for boys, or -ovna/-evna for girls, the particular ending determined by the last letter of the father's name.
According to Ancestry.com, “Traditionally, the British upper class has used multiple names to indicate family connections, even going so far as changing surnames to reflect these bonds.” (Please do not sign up for Ancestry.com.)
The most popular names in Germany in 2022 were Emilia and Noah at Number 1. Along with Emilia, the other girl names in the German Top 5 are Mia, Sofia, Emma, and Hannah. Along with Noah, other top boy names in Germany include Matteo, Elias, Finn, and Leon.
Moushimasu means “to say” in Japanese polite speech and was used to communicate with callers who were in a more privileged position. Due to the poor quality of sound, it became custom to repeat the phrase – and thus, moshi moshi was born.
It's absolutely normal to not have a middle name. There are millions and millions of people without a middle name. They have just one given name / first name. There are others who have given names but no surname.
It provides a point of differentiation for people who have a common first name and/or surname. It's a great way to compromise if you and your partner can't agree on your baby's name, or if you like more than one name.. It gives your child an easy alternative name option when they are older.
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. That said, it is more common than not to have a middle name.
- The naming convention of the Scandinavian countries do not use given names as middle names. ...
- In Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, the legal term middle name refers most often to names that are originally surnames, but not part of the last name of the name bearer.
If illegitimate and acknowledged by the father: If the child is acknowledged by the father and the middle name is blank, a supplemental report should be filed to enter the omitted middle name. The last name of the mother shall be the middle of the child.
While middle names began appearing in the late Medieval times, they were reserved only for nobility in England with an old law making them illegal for the rest of the population. Since the Pilgrims and many early settlers came from England, early American tradition included just the two names.
Can you legally have 2 middle names?
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.
Examples of Illegal Baby Names in the US
Regardless of these relatively lenient naming regulations, there are still a handful of names that were ruled illegal by courts within the US. Some of these are listed below: King. Queen.
It is very uncommon for Japanese people to have a middle name. This concept is not followed or legally recognised in Japan, except in the names of foreigners. Japanese law requires married couples to have the same family name.
The Social Security Administration does not consider a middle name or suffix as part of an individual's legal name. But many other legal sources say a full legal name includes middle name. In general, it's probably best to include your middle name if the form asks for full legal name.
