Thread: A question for Yankee Doodles

This is rare in the UK. Very rare.

Why is it common for people with money/power in the US to display their middle initials, i.e. James P Gantry?

I know that it's not always because they share a first name with their father, i.e. George W Bush.

James T Kirk

That's 'real swell' tootie, but it doesn't answer my question!!!

I dont think its common, or has anything to do with money or power. its just how some people prefer to have their names written. it may be a southern thing as well.

On a degree or Diploma I want my middle initial. No special reason, just seems more professional

Yup, I remember stacks of people having middle initials in the South.

What's it all about??????!

I don't like the Jr./Sr./III thing either... seems pompus

the middle initial may be used to differentiate people, like at debutaunt balls and things. when using Jr/Sr/I/II/III, this is to tell who you are. get a phone call to the house one day can i speak to willy dilly? junior or senior. makes sense. why pompous?

Well I would say that this is more common amongst men.

I would also say that in the Southern United States, it is common, or used to be common, for people to call each other by both their first and middle names. (Ginny Sue, Jim Bob)

I would also say that it has to do with pride of family heritage. That middle name often stands for the name of one's father, or grandfather.

Also, don't know if this is true in other countries, but in the US, males are often named after the father. To differentiate, the father and son have different initials... so the child might grow up being called by both his first and middle name, or his first and middle initial.

I think that in some case, the middle initial just sounds cool... rolls off the tongue better. For example, the "S" in Harry S Truman stands for nothing, but it sounds cool, doesn't it?

I do agree that this is all more common in the states... I now live eight hours farther north from the US border than I used to growing up... so I don't hear as many middle names here. But growing up, I was often called by my first and middle name, mostly out of family pride, because my middle name was my grandmother's name.

my grandmother calls me by my first and middle name. my daughter has no middle name, just easier that way.

Originally Posted by kenkannif

LoL...obviously mate....but why name your kid after you??? I mean are people that 'happy' with their names??? "Ahh I well like my name Ken, I think I'll call my kid Ken as well and when he has a kid we'll call him Ken as well' WTF is up with that? Ain't there enough names that are 'nice'???

I think it is sweet to name a baby the same name as the father. The woman would have to be so madly in love with the man to do that. (Either that or be forced into it.)