The Real Reason People Have Middle Names

In later Medieval times, the idea of a middle name integrated its way into the culture as a status symbol, similar to what it had been in ancient Roman society. According to Time, the use of the middle name rose among the elites in European countries like Spain, France, and England. Over time, the use of three names was not just reserved for the higher-ups in society and all levels of the community began to use it. By the 19th century, middle names had become fairly commonplace across the western world, including in the brand-new country known as The United States of America.

Today there is tons of buzz around picking names for new babies. There is an entire industry of books and websites literally dedicated to helping name your child. Over the last century, experts have tracked the use of certain names, and the trends have included everything from religious names to maiden names and even nature-inspired names. Reader's Digest states that some of the more popular middle names for girls in the U.S. include Marie, Ann, Leigh, and Nichole. For boys in the U.S., Michael, William, Robert, and James are some of the favorites