Middle names , you go by a first and middle name? For much of the public, that means listing three names: the first, the middle and the last. What you may not know is that, in many cultures, the idea of middle names isn’t even a thing or it’s nowhere as prevalent as it is in the United States. Let’s unravel why some cultures eschew middle names, how various naming traditions vary worldwide and, finally, the origins of middle names themselves.
Contents
How Did Americans Get Stuck With Those Awful, Meh Middle Names?
Middle names have an interesting, and sometimes frustrating, history. The giving of middle names in Western society was relatively rare until the late 18th to early 19th centuries. In the beginning, they were often a way to honor a godparent, carry on a family name or indicate social status. They became more standard in places like the US, the UK and Australia over time.
But the role of a middle name can be everything and anything. It’s an opportunity for some families to pass along the name of a cherished ancestor. For others, it’s a matter of expressing themselves a chance for a parent to bestow a unique or meaningful name on a child. Today middle names also serve as a practical solution for identifying people who have common first and last names (say, all the John Smiths).
Middle-Name-Skipping Cultures
Yet, despite their popularity in the West, a whole host of cultures around the world omit middle names. Here are a few reasons why:
Simplicity and Tradition
In some countries such as China, Korea, Japan, family name is followed by the first names. There’s no room in the naming tradition for a detached middle name. For instance, a Chinese person surnamed “Li” with name “Wei” has used his father’s name in reverse as the family name and his name as the given name clean, meaningful, and unadorned by a middle name.
Value of Family and Lineage
As you have noted, many other cultures place an emphasis on acknowledging family roots through surnames or the order of names rather than adding a middle name. There is no need for a middle name, because in Iceland, you take as your last name the first name (father’s, or occasionally mother’s) of your ancestry, followed with a particular suffix.
Legal and Bureaucratic Ease
Official documents in some countries are only meant for two names: first and last. Sometimes, throwing a third surname into the mix can actually be confusing, create bureaucratic headaches, so families opt for what’s most convenient for legal paperwork and passports.
Twin Names and Considerations
In places such as South Africa they don’t use a middle name so it gives a distinctive name rather than just adding a middle name to distinguish the twin. For example, in societies where twin names are common, the goal is to select coordinated or complementing first names (such as “Aya” and “Maya”) rather than relying on a middle name to differentiate.
Middle Names vs. Twin Names: A Different Idea
Middle names can be used to make someone’s name stand out or honor an important family tradition, but when it comes to twins, families often embrace the art of “twin names” selecting first names that complement each other because they sound alike or share a meaning. This reasoning is common in cultures that do not have a middle name convention and want to honor the close relationship of siblings, while preserving separate identity.
Will Middle Name Be Queued Up?
More families are using Western-style names, including middle names, as globalization brings cultures closer. But in much of the world, the custom of not having middle names is robust, and closely intertwined with family, heritage, and simplicity.
Final Thoughts
Whether you have a middle name, wish you had one, or wonder why some people have one, there’s something interesting about diving into the varied ways that cultures throughout the world name their kids. From the middle names that fill out Western passports to the emphasis on first names and the heritage of our families elsewhere, names reveal where we come from and what we hold dear.