Table of Contents
Why do some people go by 3 names?
The three-name structure used today began in the Middle Ages when Europeans were torn between giving their child a saint’s name or a common family name. The practice of giving three names eventually resolved the problem with a formula: given name first, baptismal name second, surname third.
Why do some people Initial their first name?
A first initial is a form of camouflage. Murray Abraham, the actor who won an Oscar for his role in “Amadeus,” probably realized that his film career would be better served by the initial F. than by the name Fahrid. On the other hand, some people deliberately choose an unusual second name over a normal first one.
Why are middle names a thing?
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.
What is the most common initial for a first name?
The bar charts show that J, M, S, D, and C are the most common initials for first names, whereas S, B, H, M, and C are the most common initials for last names. In contrast, U, Q, and X are initials that do not appear often for either first or last names.
Why do southern 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.
Can you have an initial as a middle name?
A middle initial isn’t always a stand-in for a name, however—some parents choose them because they just go nicely with the given name they’ve selected. In this case, the initial used as a middle name is actually a letter name, and the letter isn’t followed by a period because it’s not an abbreviated form of anything.
Why don’t we use first and last names for people’s names?
In some cases, it’s because if you just refer to them by first-and-surname, it becomes ambiguous: people won’t know who you’re talking about. Martin Luther (historical figure) and Martin Luther King, Jr. are two different people, and there are many, many people named “Martin King”.
What is the difference between a first name and middle name?
In most (if not all) Western cultures, a person is given a first, middle, and last name. A person’s first name is the name they most commonly go by. Mine is Zachary, though most people just call me Zach. A middle name is just another name.
Why do Southerners call their kids 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.
Where does the actual name come next in a name?
The actual name comes next under “Given name”. Different systems are followed in India in giving a name to a person. Confusions and complications arise when we are asked to fill in various official forms in our country – first name, middle name, last name, surname, given name are some examples.