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I come from Denmark, where middle names are, well, not exactly rare, but nowhere near as common as in the States, either. I don't have a middle name, nor do my brother and sister (although my mother does). But a politician's son I went to high school with had three or four middle names. In my experience, the subject of middle names hardly ever comes up in Danish conversations about names.

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So I'm wondering, whence came the tradition of giving children middle names? Did/Does it serve any particular purpose? What is the attraction of doing so? Is there any particular "cultural angle" to middle names? Honoring the grandparents or the like?

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I'm slightly miffed at the whole concept of middle names because it only seems to complicate things, but, having said that, there are so many beautiful names in the world that when/if I have children, I probably *will* give them middle names! But only one.

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I'm also wondering another thing (though I don't know if anyone here can tell me): Some people are called by their middle names - is this usually by their own choice (maybe they like their middle name better), or usually something that was established in very early childhood and then just stuck?

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Ever wondering,
- Tue Sørensen