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

Horatio, the middle name of the Charles Underwood, appears only in the record of his birth, on February 19, 1807, to Richard and Elisabeth Underwood of Pleasant Row in London, and in the report on the inquest into his untimely death. — Literary Hub, 10 July 2026

The first name is classic with a southern twist, and the middle name is modern. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 8 July 2026

The middle name was in honor of Madison and Liz's father, who died of cancer in 2021. — Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026

Egbert Rutherford, who went by his middle name Donovan, and his wife were together for three decades and married for 13 years. — Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 28 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for middle name

• aspartame
• counterclaim
• overcame
• underframe
• username
• acclaim
• aflame
• airframe
• ballgame
• became
• declaim
• defame

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