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.
They were named after the middle names of the couple’s mothers and grandmothers. Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 17 Apr. 2025 The brand, which is a nod to his middle name, launched in January 2019 with an array of T-shirts, sweatshirts and shorts, along with a collection of beige corduroy pieces, emblazoned with the Drew logo and a smiley face. Catherine Santino, People.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Joseph Menendez, who goes by his middle name Lyle, and younger brother Erik Menendez have been in California prisons since 1996, serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole for their parents' 1989 slayings. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2025 Elliot will carry his grandfather’s legacy with his middle name, which is Em’s real first name. Michael Saponara, Billboard, 7 Apr. 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 23 Apr. 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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