middle name

noun

Synonyms of middle namenext
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.
His mother changed his middle name following his parents' divorce, removing his father's name. Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 Jan. 2026 And my middle name’s Antony (no H for no reason), so my initials are RAS, as in Ras Tafari, as in Rastafarian; my mum really knocked meaning out of the park. Raven Smith, Vogue, 20 Jan. 2026 Advertisement Justin Timberlake NSYNC boy band member and eventual solo pop superstar, Troll and frequent SNL host Justin Timberlake was first seen at age 11 on Star Search, performing as Justin Randall (using his middle name). Barry Levitt, Time, 20 Jan. 2026 His middle name pays tribute to Sean's late grandfather, San Francisco 49ers executive John McVay. Kaitlin Stevens, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026 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 29 Jan. 2026.

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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