These days, middle names are rarely used by anyone but frustrated parents yelling at misbehaving kids. Despite the fact that just about all of us have them, most people don\u2019t know where the tradition of middle names comes from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The actual history dates back to ancient Rome. Many Romans had three names, a praenomen<\/em> (a personal name) a nomen<\/em> (a family name) and a cognomen<\/em> (signifying the specific branch of family). The more names a Roman citizen had, the more they were respected by others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This three-name tradition spread north into Europe and continued to persist throughout the Middle Ages. Eventually America was discovered and Europeans began to migrate, carrying the tradition with them overseas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Historically in the US, people have traditionally used middle names to honor a relative or close family friend. They also indicated heritage and, as the population began to skyrocket, were used to help distinguish between people with the same first and last names. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That was then, this is now. Now that you have some background on the history of middle names, let\u2019s dig into today\u2019s trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are a plethora of different middle names, and over the years the trends have slowly changed. Just like clothing, hairstyles and music, some middle name trends go in and out of style over time. Today we\u2019re seeing many more creative and unique middle names than in decades past. They take inspiration from things like personality traits, flowers, even colors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In spite of that, the vast majority of popular middle names have stood the test of time. These old, reliable names are largely biblical in origin. Here are some of those classic middle names that have existed for centuries and their meanings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n James<\/strong> is one of the most popular first and middle names. It\u2019s derived from the name Jacob in Hebrew, which means “one who follows.” In the Old Testament, Jacob wrestled with an angel and was known as the Patriarch of the Israelites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alexander<\/strong> is another common middle name that\u2019s remained in the top 10 most popular middle names for decades now. It means “defender of mankind” in Greek and is most associated with Alexander the Great, one of the most famous leaders in human history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n David<\/strong> is also a popular middle name. It’s derived from the Hebrew word for “beloved.” In the Old Testament, David was the second king of Israel. He defeated the Goliath and is one of the most well-known people in the Bible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Joseph<\/strong> is another common name that comes from the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He would eventually climb to power and become a vizier of Egypt. The name itself comes from the Hebrew word “Yosef,” which means “to add.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rose<\/strong> was popular as a first name, but in recent decades its popularity has declined. Interestingly enough, as a middle name, Rose has climbed the popularity ratings rapidly and seems destined to remain there for a long time. This middle name has a Germanic history. It’s a combination of two elements, which roughly translates to “fame” and “type.”<\/p>\n\n\n\nToday\u2019s Most Popular Middle Names<\/strong> <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most Popular Boy’s Middle Names<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Most Popular Girl’s Middle Names<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n