It is especially unusual for a Russian-speaking person that in all American films and TV shows, the characters do not have middle names. Full names are built in our language according to a certain algorithm: last name, first name, patronymic. Everything, no liberties.
And where are the patronymics 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 there?
Everything is simple and clear
But not for us. Surprisingly, in English they get by with the first and last name, optionally adding a middle one, which can consist of several names at once.
As an example, several famous people can be cited at once:
- Mary Louise Streep.
- W alter 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 patronymic at all. As a matter of fact, no.
But they have a middle name that they can use or not advertise at all - at their discretion. Highlyconvenient!
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 practically not used in everyday life, it still plays a certain role. Sometimes, for example, it makes it easier to identify a person who has a common surname - Smith, Brown. From time to time, it is even preferred to be used as the main name or pseudonym.
A middle name can be given by parents to a child after a relative, favorite celebrity, geographical feature, 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 are rarely found in the composition of the middle name.
Can a middle name be used as a middle name?
No, since the middle name has a completely different meaning. This is the name that a person can use as the main (first name) or even last name (last name). Once upon a time there was even a practice of choosing two different names for a child - simple, traditional and unusual, more interesting or fashionable. They did it in such a way that, having matured, the son or daughter will be able to choose the option they like best and be called by him already.
It is customary in documents to abbreviate the middle name to only one letter, indicating it between the given name and surname, or to indicate it in full.
As for our patronymic, it has a very definite meaning - belonging to the name of the father, formed from him with the help of suffixes. Of course, it is not customary to write it in an abbreviated 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 it is impossible to enter a middle name in the line of a middle name? Where is the count for the patronymic of the Americans? Does she exist at all? No. Just skip it if you need to fill out such documents.
It is very convenient to have several names to choose from or to know that the second name is given in honor of the great scientist and athlete, but wearing a patronymic all your life as a gift from your beloved dad is extremely cute, you must agree. And there is something to think about.
