middle name

noun

1. the part of a person's name occurring between the first and family names, as a second given name or a maternal surname.

middle name

noun

1. a name between a person's first name and surname

2. a characteristic quality for which a person is known

   caution is my middle name

Word History and Origins

Origin of middle name¹

An Americanism dating back to 1825–35

Example Sentences

Elizabeth, a Greenville resident who asked to go by her middle name out of concern for her job, told Salon that the politicians pushing this legislation risk alienating young female voters.

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The couple are now proud parents to a two-year-old and a three-month-old, the younger of whom has the middle name Aubrey.

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Luis asked to be identified by his middle name out of concern over his legal case.

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England defender Lucy Bronze's middle name is Tough, which perfectly encapsulates her Euro 2025 performances.

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Last year, Emmett attempted to fly under the radar by using the moniker “Ives,” which is his middle name.

Read more on Los Angeles Times