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

In the videos, Álvarez, 39, hardly looks the part of an insurgent fighter who went by the nickname Alex, short for her middle name Alexandra. —Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025

Both Prince William and Prince Harry later honored their mother by giving their daughters, Princess Charlotte and Princess Lilibet, the middle name of Diana. —Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025

Neo-soul is in her blood, her mom introduced her to Lauryn Hill’s music, and Olivia’s middle name, Lauren, is actually a tribute to Hill. —Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025

Just as Obama showed a Black man with a Muslim middle name could be president, Mamdani shows an actual Muslim and self-described socialist can conquer the capital of capitalism. —Ben Adler, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025

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