middle name

noun

1
: a name between one's first name and surname
2
: a term that is particularly apt to denote a person's qualities or affinities
patience is her middle name

Examples of middle name in a Sentence

President John F. Kennedy's middle name was “Fitzgerald.”
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Madelaine — who goes professionally by her middle name, West — signed with the talent agency Gersh in August 2025, per Variety. Francesca Gariano, People.com, 14 Sep. 2025 Horror is — and always should be — Halloween Horror Nights’ middle name. Robert Niles, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025 The elder Brown, who goes by his middle name, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Thursday. Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 22 Aug. 2025 While there are plenty of practical and heartwarming reasons for a parent to call their child by a middle name, lots of commenters who go by their middle names were very vocal about the pain points that often accompany the practice. Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for middle name

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of middle name was in 1835

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Cite this Entry

“Middle name.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middle%20name. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

middle name

noun
1
: a name between one's first name and last name
2
: a term that names a notable quality of a person
patience is her middle name

More from Merriam-Webster on middle name

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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