Anonymous wrote:I think it’s odd not to have a middle name and assume the child wasn’t wanted enough to give them one. Likely an incorrect assumption but it’s my first assumption.

What a bizarre conclusion to jump to.

Middle names that aren't family names (documenting mom's maiden line) are kind of a recent thing, in the US at least.

For women, there often still is an assumption their maiden surname will become their middle name upon marriage. My MIL and her sisters didn't get middle names, and the reason was the assumption that they'd go from Larla Smith to Larla Smith Jones. Whereas my mom got one and went from Larla Grace Smith to Larla Grace Jones.

My mom didn't have a middle name. It never struck me as strange that she gave me one if she didn't have one.

Her older sister had both grandmother's names as first names.

My dad doesn’t. I never thought twice about it. What is there to explain? His parents didn’t give one to any of their kids.

The royal family has enough for those that don't have one.

I think it’s odd not to have a middle name and assume the child wasn’t wanted enough to give them one. Likely an incorrect assumption but it’s my first assumption.

Well, what is your story - why no middle name?

A good friend has just a middle inital. Same as his dad. Just a family thing, they say.

"My parents were too poor to afford a middle name." That's what older relatives of mine would joke to younger generations who would ask. Always went over just fine.

Does anyone else not have a middle name and how do you explain this to your own children who you did give a middle name to?