Why do some parents call their kids 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 someone be called by their middle name?

The good news is, having a middle name as a first name is actually quite common! There aren’t official statistics, probably because middlenameites are too classy to make a big deal out of it, but we feel a kinship with each other.

Why do parents use middle names?

“Names in the middle position are great places to ‘personalize’ a child’s name, by giving a name that represents a person or idea important to parents.” According to Suzanne, many parents also use middle names as an way to honor an inspirational person, like a friend, teacher or religious leader.

Can I name my child my middle name?

Because middle names aren’t used as frequently, you don’t have to worry as much about the name’s style quotient—so you can freely give your boy or girl a middle name that’s considered a little stale, like Ralph or Gertrude.

Why do Irish people go by their middle names?

Middle names are often chosen to honour a family member (e.g. a grandparent) or someone who is seen as an inspiration to the parents. Many Irish surnames are patronymic, using the prefixes ‘Mac’ or ‘Mc’ meaning “son of” and ‘O’ meaning “grandson of” (e.g. MACDONALD, MCCARTHY, O’NEILL, O’CONNOR).

What is the importance of 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.

Does middle name have to be father’s name?

Does it mean father’s name? No. Middle name can be anything, such as second given name, father’s name, grandfather’s name, mother’s name, grandmother’s name or place name. You are eligible to use your father’s first name as your middle name only if legally provided to you since birth.