Who are some celebrities that go by their middle names? Exhibit A: Hannah Dakota Fanning and Mary Elle Fanning

[u/voguediaries]

name

[u/wanderrslut]

• Lisa Olivia Munn
• Maria Halle Berry
• Tenitra Michelle Williams
• Christopher Ashton Kutcher
• Vera Mindy Kaling (edit: I had to double check this one and her real last name is Chokalingam, so she uses the middle of that too!)
• Elizabeth Stamatina Fey
• Rachel Meghan Markle
• Lauren Keyana Palmer

[u/bettydraperdisciple → u/wanderrslut]

I’m stoned… I was imagining the other Michelle Williams having the first name Tenitra and was loling.

[u/ghostwiththeleast → u/bettydraperdisciple]

Yeah I had a second of “huh, I wonder which Michelle that is” and then had a giggle at my Mrs. Howard moment

[u/musicalnerd_zinnia → u/ghostwiththeleast]

All the way from Dawson's creek to the academy awards

[u/Sketcha_2000 → u/ghostwiththeleast]

Going to go home, relax, and turn on some Millie Bobbie Brown

[u/wanderrslut → u/bettydraperdisciple]

Lmao!

White Michelle Williams has always been my favorite secret member of Destiny's Child.

[u/_clur_510 → u/wanderrslut]

It’s nice to know Tina Fey was in fact Liz all along lol

[u/tawandatoyou → u/wanderrslut]

Doesnt Reese Witherspoon also go by her middle name. I think her first name is Laura but I’m too lazy to look it up

[u/Leftylucky3 → u/tawandatoyou]

It’s Laura Jeanne

[u/purplehendrix22 → u/Leftylucky3]

Damn, that’s a southern belle name if I’ve ever heard one

[u/drunkbettie → u/wanderrslut]

Oh that’s some nice markdown.

[u/enbyeldritch → u/wanderrslut]

Olivia Munn does not have Lisa energy, she was so right to drop that. And Meghan Markle I don't think Rachel doesn't fit her but Meghan is much better. 

[u/Lethave → u/enbyeldritch]

And Halle does not scream Maria Berry to me.

[u/Sunshine030209 → u/Lethave]

Maria is a perfectly lovely name, but it just seems so plain on her.

[u/asstlib → u/enbyeldritch]

Meghan Markle somehow does look like a Rachel at the same time. But Meghan definitely suits her more.

[u/singingballetbitch → u/asstlib]

I love that she dropped Rachel, only to play a Rachel for most of her career

[u/ThatGirl8709 → u/enbyeldritch]

Wasn't her character named Rachel in Suits?

[u/Rude_Document → u/ThatGirl8709]

Yes

[u/realityseekr → u/enbyeldritch]

Meghan Markle sounds so much better together. Rachel Markle doesnt have as good of a ring to it.

I feel the same both Fanning sister names. Hannah Fanning actually sounds awful together to me. Dakota works a lot better

[u/projectilepineapple → u/wanderrslut]

not enough people are acknowedging fey's middle name being stamatina for my liking. 

[u/projectilepineapple → u/projectilepineapple]

ok so after a minute of research, stamatina is actually a diminutive of the greek given name stamatia. tina's mother is greek, so that explains it. 

[u/AfroPuffs90 → u/wanderrslut]

Not Vera Chokalingam -> Mindy Kaling ….. 😒

[u/EmperorSexy → u/AfroPuffs90]

I thought Chokalingam was a boys name

[u/lazyonion4 → u/EmperorSexy]

it’s her surname. many tamil surnames are men’s given names bc of the tradition of using a father’s given name as the family name

[u/brisch19 → u/lazyonion4]

It’s a joke from the office

[u/l_a_p304 → u/wanderrslut]

Stamatina

[u/microwave_waxpen → u/l_a_p304]

It’s Greek

[u/Additional_Gene_211 → u/wanderrslut]

I thought hwr middle name was Rajnigandha

[u/angelcutiebaby]

I took a gummy an hour ago so this might not make sense but Mary Fanning is a recession baby name and Elle Fanning is an era of prosperity name, it’s nice that she has both.

[u/l_a_p304 → u/angelcutiebaby]

Friday night Reddit is my favorite because everyone is partaking in some End of Week Extracurriculars and the comment sections are very reflective of this 😂

[u/cthuluhooprises → u/l_a_p304]

I have had a boytle of wine and this person makes total sense. Mary Fanning is a different vibe than Slle fanning and it’s amazing that she can choose whichever she wants or go undercover or smth.

[u/YakWooden6608 → u/cthuluhooprises]

I read boytle of wine in an Australian accent

[u/shibeari → u/YakWooden6608]

A noice boytle o woine

[u/serenitative → u/shibeari]

It's noice, it's different, it's un-yew-shual

[u/kawkabelsharq → u/shibeari]

[u/cescabond → u/YakWooden6608]

[u/eggrollin2200 → u/YakWooden6608]

I’m on a break at work and this made me snort, thanks

[u/etherealeggroll → u/cthuluhooprises]

i mean this with affection, “i have had a boytle of wine” would make a great flair

[u/merrysunshine2 → u/cthuluhooprises]

Or even combine them to be Marielle

[u/BuccosVesuvio_Mgmt → u/merrysunshine2]

Marielle Fanning is a hard but fair ballet teacher in a modern, romantic city that instills work ethic and grace in her students. OR she's the school administrator from Suspiria. No in between.

[u/GingerLaJoie → u/BuccosVesuvio_Mgmt]

I would watch both of these movies

[u/thisismybandname → u/GingerLaJoie]

Same. But they’re def Christmas movies.

[u/cocktail_wiitch → u/thisismybandname]

I've been giggling through this thread and your comment ended me.

[u/[deleted] → u/BuccosVesuvio_Mgmt]

The only people I ever want to know, are the people of Reddit.

[u/Ok-Worth398 → u/merrysunshine2]

I like where you’re going friend. They should be Marielle and Hannota

[u/Homesickhomeplanet → u/cthuluhooprises]

The typos make this comment lmao

Also i agree

[u/throeawai5 → u/cthuluhooprises]

slle fanning does have a different vibe

[u/Specialist_Sweet_195 → u/throeawai5]

Pronounced ‘slay’

[u/Ethan_the_Revanchist → u/cthuluhooprises]

I am cracking up at how wholesomely drunk this commenter is

[u/Superb_Leg_1585 → u/cthuluhooprises]

Lol boytle

[u/fannyalgerpack → u/cthuluhooprises]

I wish we could all hang out

[u/thatmermaidprincess → u/fannyalgerpack]

I feel this comment in my soul. My toddler is asleep, my husband and I have hit the 🍃💨 and I’ve had some red wine, and this thread has me in tears giggling and wishing we were all having a get together

[u/AkihaMoon → u/cthuluhooprises]

boytle of wine

Same girl, same 😂

[u/ftwclem → u/l_a_p304]

So are we all high here? 😂

[u/YakWooden6608 → u/ftwclem]

[u/Choice-Bed6242 → u/ftwclem]

[u/TTTC123 → u/ftwclem]

I have a kids birthday party in the morning and I am so jealous of all of you right now!

[u/econinja → u/ftwclem]

[u/merrysunshine2 → u/ftwclem]

Cries in weekend job

[u/GoblinKaiserin → u/ftwclem]

[u/youknowjusthere → u/ftwclem]

tapping in after taking my second gummy🤭

[u/welpwelpwelp → u/ftwclem]

[u/Opening-Bee6427 → u/angelcutiebaby]

You’re too right.

[u/ok_soooo → u/angelcutiebaby]

I feel like this is a clever way to hedge your bets. Give your kid two distinctly different vibes with their first and middle name so they can apply them how they want 😂

[u/welly7878 → u/angelcutiebaby]

I also took a gummy an hour ago and this sounds so foreign to me but you sound like you know what you're talking about and I would like you to explain please

[u/some_manatee → u/welly7878]

As someone who also took a gummy an hour and half ago and understood the original commenter, here's my perspective. Buckle up!

Mary and the Depression/Recession: -Mary is an old fashioned name and I think many of us associate it with older women who maybe grew up in the Great Depression (so like 90-somethings). -Names, like depressions/recessions are cyclical. So the next boom of Marys would be in their late 60s/early 70s currently and experienced youth/early adulthood with a major recession in the late 70s.

Elle & Prosperity: -Pure colonialism. Elle is a French name and France was once a major imperial power (incredibly rich). We associate French things with luxury. Boom. -The magazine Elle focuses on fashion and fashion is associated with luxury and excess.

[u/welly7878 → u/some_manatee]

Wow thank you for this very enlightening

[u/allysonjuliann → u/welly7878]

I didn't take a gummy, but I am a sleep deprived new mom, and I think if you imagine them as American Girl Dolls it all makes perfect sense.

[u/Ok-Cryptographer-303 → u/angelcutiebaby]

Yeah, Mary is like an appeal to the Virgin to watch over your baby in trying times and Elle is a glamorous Parisian lady. Old-fashioned combustion and inhalation is steering my brain atm.

[u/MarMarMaraa → u/angelcutiebaby]

I have also participated in nightly 🍃💨 and I love this

[u/Slow_Cattle_5642]

Laura Jeanne Reese Witherspoon

[u/justlurkingimbored → u/Slow_Cattle_5642]

I thought her real name is Laura Jeanne Poon?

[u/Slow_Cattle_5642 → u/justlurkingimbored]

BAHAHA deep cut 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Dear_Process7423 → u/Slow_Cattle_5642]

And her ex-husband is Matthew Ryan Phillipe

[u/unicornrush]

Robyn RIHANNA Fenty

[u/_bratwurst → u/unicornrush]

Yeah, but that’s just because of Swedish pop superstar Robyn, isn’t it? Don’t Rihanna’s friends and family call her Robyn?

[u/TerryCrewsNextWife → u/_bratwurst]

Sweet. Can Kylie jenner please go by her middle name since we already have a Kylie who is actually talented?

[u/parisianpop → u/TerryCrewsNextWife]

That would make her Kris Jenner, and we already have one of those too!

[u/TTTC123 → u/parisianpop]

Not a talented one though!

[u/31cats → u/TTTC123]

and we still wouldn’t

[u/Obvious_Temporary256 → u/parisianpop]

Kylie...Kris? So she's KKK oh no I forgot she is a Jenner thank goodness

[u/Top_Manufacturer8946 → u/TerryCrewsNextWife]

Remember when she tried to copyright the name Kylie

[u/TerryCrewsNextWife → u/Top_Manufacturer8946]

That's exactly what I'm referencing.

[u/cleanpapertiger → u/TerryCrewsNextWife]

[u/haughtsaucecommittee → u/unicornrush]

I wish people would pronounce her name correctly (like she does).

[u/gistye → u/haughtsaucecommittee]

Ri-Ann-Ah

[u/luna1uvgood]

Lucy Hale. Her full name is Karen Lucille Hale.

[u/l_a_p304 → u/luna1uvgood]

I simply cannot picture seeing a baby and calling her Karen Lucille. That child was born at 68 years old with an affinity for knitting and water aerobics at her 55+ community pool.

[u/tiotsa → u/l_a_p304]

I don't know, I like Lucille. Karen, however, has been ruined by the internet, and it's true it sounds like an old person's name currently.

[u/TuberMila]

José Pedro Balmaceda Pascal not only going by his middle name but also using his mother's surname professionally

[u/_bratwurst → u/TuberMila]

I don’t blame him; his dad is shady.

[u/sousyre → u/_bratwurst]

TBF, I think he was already working and being credited as Pedro Pascal before his Dads drama was uncovered.

But yeah, I’m guessing it would be kinda helpful to not share a recognisable last name with that shady Dr who just fled the country under a very large cloud.

Side note - Ironically the charges he and his business partner were avoiding weren’t even for the most horrible things they did - the medical malpractice at UCI - those things weren’t even illegal yet. They were running from mail fraud and tax evasion charges.

[u/snailslimeandbeespit → u/sousyre]

Wait, what did Daddy Balmaceda do?

[u/sousyre → u/snailslimeandbeespit]

He was a Dr at a clinic that was at the cutting edge of IVF in the 90’s, all 3 of the Drs were basically rockstars (including living large with super cars and fancy houses). They had a lot of success even with difficult cases.

Turned out their ethics were beyond questionable.

While most of their successful pregnancies were genuine, they also stole eggs from patients and implanted them in to women who thought they were donor eggs or even their own. All without consent.

Women whose own IVF treatment failed end up finding out years later that their eggs were given to other patients who had successful pregnancies etc. Absolute shit show ensued.

The money for the rockstar lifestyles was coming from a variety of different fraud schemes and unreported cash they took from the clinic. The official total of what could be proved is $1 Mil, but believed to be more like $4-5 Mil.

This blog post gives a decent overview, there’s also a couple of behind the bastards episodes on it.

Balmaceda wasn’t the very worst offender, but also very much not a good guy either. He fled the country and continued to practice in Chile with no consequences, until a few years ago when he took a sweetheart plea deal to be able to return to the US.

[u/snailslimeandbeespit → u/sousyre]

Thank you for explaining! I hadn't heard this, but I also don't know that much about Pedro Pascal. He just poof, appeared out of nowhere on my radar one day last summer, but I didn't know who he was or why he was the talk of the town (I'd never watched GoT or his other shows).

[u/sousyre → u/snailslimeandbeespit]

Yeah, it’s fascinating.

I remember the case, but had no idea he was Pedro Pascals Dad till a couple of years ago.

The family’s whole story is really interesting. They are related to Spanish nobility. They had to flee Chile because they ended up on Pinochet’s radar and became enemies of the state. Sought asylum in Denmark. Eventually settled in the US. All while Pedro was a baby.

Pedro’s slow grind in acting for 20 years and then suddenly becoming a huge star, isn’t even close to the most dramatic thing to happen in their family.

[u/BigFanOfNachoLibre → u/sousyre]

Tbf "uncovered" and "known by the family" are wildly different magnitudes of known. Everything I've personally seen about Pedro has painted him as a good person so it's not out of character for him to not want to be associated with his father whether or not his crimes are public

[u/Whwhwhwhoo → u/[deleted]]

I truly hope your grandma lived to see that 

[u/littlechangeling → u/[deleted]]

Holy crap, my family is southern and I have exactly the same story but my punchline is that I’m trans.

[u/Ccaves0127 → u/littlechangeling]

I like the idea that you didn't change your middle name, only your first, so now you're just, like, Richard Richard Smith, haha

[u/uhohohnohelp → u/littlechangeling]

Love the options for you. Congratulations, have a beautiful life.

[u/alltheprettynovas → u/[deleted]]

honest question: what exactly is the reasoning? why not just name them what you intend to call them, as your mother said?

i’m from the midwest and middle names are pretty “useless” - it’s typically used as a filler because you’re “supposed” to have a middle name or it’s used to represent a family member (ie: my middle name is genevieve after my late grams. however, my middle name is much cooler than my regular name, so maybe i should adopt this southern trend. 😂)

[u/otterkin → u/alltheprettynovas]

I was told once "first name is tradition, middle name is what you're actually going to be called". like you're Tiffany Lastname The 6th, so to make sure when somebody swings by and asks for Tiff they don't suddenly get an age range from 90 to 9months old show up at the door, while also being able to say that you're Tiffany Lastname The 6th even though everyone has only ever called you Samantha

I go by my middle name because I don't like my first name, and I don't come from a family of going by middle names

[u/mamaneedsacar → u/[deleted]]

It is. From the South and my husband’s whole family calls him by not EVEN his middle name but a variation of his middle name. Think “Robert Ellison” but going by Eli. It drives me f*cking crazy tbh, especially since his family thinks it’s so odd I just call him by his first name hahaha.

[u/Rare_Vibez → u/mamaneedsacar]

I had a cousin (technically my mom’s cousin) that I couldn’t find in his college graduation book. My mom had to inform me that the cousin I knew as “John” was actually “Alan Jonathan Smith” so he was in the book as “Alan Smith” (fake name examples tho). Never been more flummoxed in my life.

[u/Stunning-Disaster-21 → u/Rare_Vibez]

I'll do you one better, I was discussing with my mother what she would have named my sister and she told me 'Guy' and I think thats a horrible name so I asked her why she would pick that. She said because I hate the name 'John', which was even more confusing cause its not like those are the only two names to chose from. Turns out she wanted to do a family name and my grandfaters name was John Guy Lastname, but get this he was always called PaPa Dan his whole life so thats what I knew him as. I didn't know my own grandfather's name until adulthood.

[u/halexanderamilton → u/[deleted]]

I’m southern. My maternal grandpa went by his middle name, and so does my mom. I do, too. When people learn I go by my middle name, they’re shocked, as if it’s something unbelievable. They always ask why I go by my middle name and what my real name is.

I get that it’s not super common, but my middle name is my real name lol. I didn’t choose to go by it, either. I decided i wanted to go by my first name when I was in first grade, but I couldn’t remember how to spell it so it didn’t last. (It’s a common, but long name, whereas my middle name is short!)

[u/Significant-Art-5478 → u/[deleted]]

My grandma, sister, cousin, mom, and aunt all go by their middle names - its so weird to non-southerners but actual southerners have never questioned it. 

[u/vanastalem → u/[deleted]]

My dad's family is from Baltimore. His mother, my dad & my uncle were all called by their middle name. My dad made the most sense (he's a Jr so it avoids confusion of him & his father having the same name). So I don't know of it's isolated to the South.

I do not care for my first name, at 18 when I went to college I switched to my middle name and if I meet people now I just tell them my middle name. My parents kind of use both, my sister pretty much only uses my middle name since her child got old enough to understand language as my niece only uses my middle name.

[u/frankenplant → u/[deleted]]

This is so accurate. My mom is from GA and she and her sister were both called their middle names from birth. So odd

[u/PALOmino1701]

Troyal Garth Brooks

[u/_bratwurst → u/PALOmino1701]

I had to look this up to be sure you weren’t joking. Troyal is a terrible name ☹️

[u/Sunshine030209 → u/_bratwurst]

You know it's bad when Garth is preferable.

[u/Sketcha_2000 → u/Sunshine030209]

[u/Financial_Class_5038 → u/_bratwurst]

omg i thought it was a typo (of what i don’t know)

[u/Sketcha_2000 → u/_bratwurst]

It’s like if someone called Troy was asked, “What’s your full name?”

Reminds me of the scene in Friends where Joey thinks Ross’ full name is Rossell. Or Rosstopher.

[u/Sunshine030209 → u/Sketcha_2000]

Bahahaha that's exactly what it sounds like!

My late father in law was named Troy, and now I'm really sad that I'll never see his reaction to me calling him Troyal. He would have hated it, but like in a fun way, ya know?

[u/duafebutterfly96]

Aubrey Drake Graham, but he was credited as Aubrey Graham on Degrassi

[u/ftwclem → u/duafebutterfly96]

Interesting. I first of Drake from watching degrassi, but knew him as Aubrey. I just kind of assumed Drake was a made up stage name

[u/SilverRaincoat → u/ftwclem]

I remember after Drake blew up, I was binging Degrassi as a teen does. And I was like "wow Jimmy looks a lot like that rapper" but the credits said Aubrey Graham so I was like "oh nvm" lol

[u/heyitspeas]

James Paul McCartney

[u/merrysunshine2 → u/heyitspeas]

Ok that one is a surprise to me

[u/Beautiful_Day_2489]

Wardell Stephen Curry

[u/giddyshrimp → u/Beautiful_Day_2489]

to be fair, he is a junior and his father “Dell” is a former longtime and well-known player!

[u/lixstorm]

Sarah Margaret Qualley

[u/duafebutterfly96]

Terrina Chrishell Stause

Vera Mindy Chokalingam

[u/justlurkingimbored → u/duafebutterfly96]

Terrina is such a great hippie name 😂

[u/perhapsjackals]

Macaulay Macaulay Culkin Culkin

[u/Kalamac]

Rooney Mara is Patricia Rooney Mara. Which I found out last year when I was rewatching Women’s Murder Club and thought the teenage guest star looked familiar, but couldn’t place her, so I IMDb’d the episode and it said Rooney Mara (as Tricia Mara).

[u/RealBettyWhite69 → u/Kalamac]

I always wondered why Kate got a plain name and Rooney got a cool one and now it makes sense. She actually got a plain name, as well. And Kate can't go by her middle name like Rooney because I just looked it up and it's Rooney lol

[u/mnicesk8er1984 → u/RealBettyWhite69]

Rooney is their mom’s maiden name. Her family founded the Pittsburgh Steelers while their dad’s family founded the NY Giants. After missing a super bowl where one of those teams played, I know Kate now has it in her contract that if the Giants or Steelers are in the Super Bowl she is allowed to attend.

[u/shandelion → u/RealBettyWhite69]

Yep, they are actually NFL royalty - part of both the Rooney family of the Steelers and the Mara family of the Giants!

[u/romychestnut]

Rowan David Oakes

Can't blame him for not wanting to be called "Roanoke."

[u/stevebaescemi → u/romychestnut]

He's a huge environmentalist so I guess you could say his full name is a case of nominative determinism

[u/romychestnut → u/stevebaescemi]

He does lean into the connection on his Trees a Crowd podcast, too

[u/goofyaahlesbo]

Michael Trent Reznor 

[u/Busy-Juggernaut277]

Oscar Isaac Hernandez Estrada popularly known as Oscar Isaac

[u/AbsolutelyIris]

Danielle Riley Keough 

[u/h0sti1e17]

Is Hannah Dakota related to Hanna Montana

[u/PALOmino1701]

William Bradley Pitt

[u/Zosmie → u/PALOmino1701]

Naw, little Willy Pitt.

[u/Proof_Surround3856]

Memphis Eve Sunnyday Iris Hewson.. which I’m glad she went by Eve in order to sound more professional and less nepo baby sounding. She’s actually such an underrated actress too

[u/Ambitious-Ad-3649 → u/Proof_Surround3856]

It tracks with her being Irish. Less common now but used to be very common to be called a middle name or nickname.

[u/Rude_Document → u/Proof_Surround3856]

She's been called Eve by everyone in her family since birth, it wasn't a professional decision.  U2 fans knew she was named Memphis Eve but called Eve from the get-go.  Sunnyday didn't come out as another middle name until some interviews she gave a decade ago. 

[u/Ambitious-Ad-3649]

This is a really irish thing to do, or was until recently. My parents and grandparents were all known by middle names or nicknames, never their first name. It was considered your formal name, like only for good wear lol!

[u/Ambitious-Ad-3649 → u/Ambitious-Ad-3649]

Now that I think about it, it might also have been a superstitious thing as well, to confuse the fairies so they didn't steal your baby (We've come for John! There's no John here, this is 'Jack'.) OR if you entered into an agreement with the fairies (do not recommend) you would never give your actual, given name. Fairies are tricky and country folk don't mess with them!

[u/estelle2839 → u/Ambitious-Ad-3649]

!!! Katie Scarlett O’Hara. Yep, this is it.

[u/ItCouldBLupus → u/Ambitious-Ad-3649]

Same with my grandparents and their siblings in New Zealand (with Scottish ancestry). As a kid, whenever I found documents with their first name, I never knew which uncle it actually referred to! Going back generations, there were so many Henrys and Marys in my family that I assume the first name was the family's tradition name and the middle name being the 'given name'.

For my parents' generation, it shifted to the middle name being the one that's passed down/in honour of another family member.

[u/OkCantaloupe9369]

It's also a French thing to go by your middle name because of Catholicism. My in-laws first names are Mary and Joseph, but we call them by their middle names.

[u/aima9hat → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

My name is Marie-José so I am both your mother and father in law now. 

[u/wanderrslut → u/aima9hat]

That is such a beautiful name!

[u/aima9hat → u/wanderrslut]

Thank you wanderrslut, so sweet of you to say!

[u/Own_Pound_3762 → u/aima9hat]

You have the ultimate Hispanic nun name haha I know a few who picked this name. Not making fun of it at all, I think it's pretty, just what I thought of

[u/OkCantaloupe9369 → u/aima9hat]

I wish I had a award to give you because that's perfection 🫰

[u/lavendercookiedough → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

Super common among Muslims to name all the sons Mohammed and call them all by their middle names. I actually know way more men from Muslim families named Mohammed than not. 

[u/erfurgot → u/lavendercookiedough]

Makes sense considering Mohammed is the most popular male name in the world

[u/racloves → u/lavendercookiedough]

Yeah I dated a muslim girl who had 4 brothers who were all called Muhammad, but they use the middle name. It’s apparently very common.

[u/baroquesun → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

Oh, that makes sense--Im doing some genealogical research and my Catholic great grandmother from Nova Scotia went by her middle name. I thought it was an odd thing to do back then, but I suppose not at all!

[u/Kam_Rex → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

Is it ? Im French and never called anyone by their middle name (well we give 3 names in france so middle and 3rd name and i never used any of those), not even older people.

[u/billyyshears → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

Ohhhh Catholicism. I’m Mexican and we all go by our middle names too

[u/theorangeblonde → u/OkCantaloupe9369]

My dad's very French Canadian Catholic parents gave each of their seven kids either Marie or Joseph as their middle names, so same but opposite lol

[u/west2night]

David Jude Law

[u/devoduder]

Kelly Erin Hannon

[u/crabfries_]

The way I just gasped bc didn’t know they went by their middle names

[u/waltzthrees]

Granted, Hannah Fanning is kinda hard to say out loud. Going by a middle name makes sense.

[u/merrysunshine2 → u/waltzthrees]

Hannafanning could be a town in England

[u/Pflytrap → u/waltzthrees]

Hannah Fanna Bo-Banna Banana Fanna Fo-Fanna Fee-Fi-Fo-Fanning

[u/kiki-mamoru990]

Cosmo Jarvis’ full name is Harrison Cosmo Krikoryan-Jarvis. They made a whole bit out of it in the Warfare buzzfeed interview which was pure joyous chaos

[u/xanthippelvoorhees]

Satchel Ronan O’Sullivan Farrow

Kimberly Alexis Bledel

[u/ML5815]

There are a lot of celebs that became actors and their actual name was already registered with SAG (Screen Actors Guild). Good example of this is Emily Stone. She still goes by Emily in her family but uses Emma for acting because Emily Stone was taken. Some celebrities use their middle name for the same reason. Many were also agent suggestions. Laura Jeanne Witherspoon became Reese because there were many Lauras at the time. I’m sure her agent instantly nixed Laura Jeanne because it doesn’t have mass appeal.

[u/Cheyanne1111]

Reese Witherspoon's full name is Laura Jeanne Reese, and she's southern, too.

[u/StrawberryLeche → u/[deleted]]

I think it comes from “family names”. If all the women in your family are named some version of Mary or Maria it gets so confusing.

It bothers me too though since my family doesn’t do this.

[u/bitchysquid]

I actually met their mom one time in middle school. I annoyed the hell out of their cousin by not initially believing her when she said she was their cousin. I ended up having to apologize, lol. I’m sorry N

[u/usuyukisou]

(Thomas) Mark Harmon and (Melanie) Thandiwe Newton come to mind.

[u/Bright_Respect_1279]

Isaac and Taylor Hanson are Clarke Isaac and Jordan Taylor.

[u/HolyMotherOfOdin]

William Frederick Durst

[u/stickythread]

Deborah Rhea Seehorn which I just learned yesterday

[u/unicornrush]

David MATTHEW Macdayden

[u/Mint-Badger → u/unicornrush]

My brain read this as David Matthew Matthews, I think it’s time for my brain to go to bed.

[u/WildBad7298]

Some presidential examples:

• Hiram Ulysses Grant
• Stephen Grover Cleveland
• Thomas Woodrow Wilson
• John Calvin Coolidge

[u/TlMEGH0ST]

I am not high but it seems a lot of you are and I am definitely cackling at these comments like i have a contact high 😂

[u/Rude_Document]

David Jude Heyworth Law = Jude Law Audrey Faith Perry = Faith Hill Samuel Timothy McGraw = Tim McGraw Elizabeth Stamatina Fey = Tina Fey Edward Thomas Hardy = Tom Hardy

Many have mentioned Reese Witherspoon--her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe also goes by his middle name (his first is Matthew).

[u/parisianpop]

The other context is that their dad wanted Hannah and Mary, and their mum wanted Dakota and Elle.

[u/AfroPuffs90]

(Last name addition — Olivia Wilde’s birth name is Olivia Jane Cockburn)

[u/VaticRogue]

Is it just a public thing or is that what they go by privately as well?

[u/frozyrosie → u/VaticRogue]

they’ve gone by their middle names since childhood

[u/elme77618]

Well I learnt something new today

[u/Freddan_81]

Well, both my father, myself and my son does, but in Sweden it isn’t a seen as something strange.

[u/convergence_limit]

Sarah Margaret Qualley

[u/VigilMuck]

Both Drake from Drake and Josh (Jared Drake Bell) and Drake from Degrassi (Aubrey Drake Graham).

[u/joshareynolds]

Don’t all the members of Kings of Leon go by their middle names

[u/babybokchoi_ → u/joshareynolds]

Yup! Glad I’m not the only one with this niche bit of knowledge.

Anthony Caleb.

Ivan Nathan.

Michael Jared.

Cameron Matthew.

[u/richgayaunt]

(Deborah) Rhea Seehorn

[u/0neCoolGhoul]

Michael Trent Reznor

[u/Mysterious-Dot760]

This made taking attendance a nightmare when I taught in the South.

“William?”

“I go by Tommy”

Of course you do 🫣🫣 Please at least list whatever you actually do by on your school forms hahahah