Today is Middle Name Day, which allows everyone with multiple names to reflect on where they came from.

The concept dates back to ancient Rome, when having more than one name was an honour usually given to the most important people, such as Gaius Julius Caesar.

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It picked up in popularity in Western culture in the 1700s, when aristocrats gave their children long names as a symbol of their place in society.

The three-name structure began in the Middle Ages, when Europeans didn’t know whether to name their child after a saint, or use a common family name.


It became common practice to use the formula of given name first, followed by baptismal name, then the surname.



Non-religious middle names soon became popular, and maternal maiden names were usually used.

According to the last data released, which was in 2015, these are the 30 most popular middle names in the UK.

What are the most popular middle names for girls? (Picture: Getty) 1. Rose 2. Elizabeth 3. Grace 4. Mary 5. Alice 6. Florence 7. May/Mae 8. Ann/e 9. Jane 10. Louise 11. Isobel 12. Alexandra 13. Frances 14. Margaret 15. Charlotte

What are the most popular middle names for boys? Prince George in 2014 (Picture: Getty) 1. William 2. John 3. James 4. David 5. George 6. Alexander 7. Thomas 8. Arthur 9. Charles 10. Henry 11. Edward 12. Peter 13. Michael 14. Richard 15. Nicholas

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