It is especially unusual for a Russian-speaking person that in all American films and TV shows the heroes have no middle names. Full names are built in our language according to a specific algorithm: last name, first name, middle name. Everything, no liberties.
And where are the middle names of the Americans? Many are mistaken in thinking that in the west it is indicated in the same way as in our country - in the middle. But if this is it, then why are there female names?
Everything is simple and clear.
But not for us. Surprisingly, in English they bypass the first and last name, optionally adding an average, which can consist of several names at once.
As an example, you can cite several famous people at once:
- Mary Louise Streep.
- Walter Bruce Willis
- Christopher Ashton Kutcher.
- David Jude Hayworth Lowe.
Their names sound somewhat strange and unusual for us, many even wonder if Americans have a middle name at all. Actually, no.
But they have a middle name that they can use or not advertise at all - at their discretion. Very comfortably!
Second name
The middle name (middle name) in English-speaking countries most often appears only in the passport and other official documents. As a rule, friends and acquaintances do not always know what a person’s middle name is - they simply do not consider it necessary to voice it when they meet.
Even when this name is almost never used in everyday life, it still plays a role. Sometimes, for example, it facilitates the identification of a person bearing a common surname - Smith, Brown. From time to time, they even prefer to use it as the main name or alias.
Parents can give the middle name to the child in honor of a relative, beloved celebrity, geographical location, sports player or saint. Quite often, it can consist of several names at once. Interestingly, the law does not limit the number of elements of which it can consist, that is, theoretically, its length can be infinite. In practice, more than four names in the middle name are rarely found.
Can middle name be used as middle name?
No, since the middle name carries a completely different semantic load. This is the name that a person can use as the primary (first name) or even last name (last name). Once there was even a practice of choosing two different names for a child - simple, traditional and unusual, more interesting or fashionable. They did this with the expectation that, having matured, the son or daughter will be able to choose the option they like best and be called already.
In documents, it is customary to reduce the average name to only one letter, indicating it between the name and surname, or indicate it in full.
As for our patronymic, it has a very definite meaning - belonging to the father’s name, formed from him with the help of suffixes. Of course, it is not accepted to write it in an abridged version, it is either not indicated at all, or it is written in full. But how then to fill out various questionnaires and documents, if you can’t enter the middle name in the middle name line? Where is the column for the middle name of the Americans? Is she at all? Not. Just skip it if you need to fill out such documents.
It’s very convenient to have several names to choose from or to know that the middle name is given in honor of the great scientist and athlete, but all your life to wear a middle name as a gift from your beloved dad is extremely nice, agree. And there is something to think about.