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ArchivesRe: What does it mean?
in reply to a message by Senthil
In English-speaking countries, "first name" means your given name, ie the name your parents gave you when you were born. "middle name" is also a given name. "surname" or "last name" is the name you inherit from your parent (usually your father but sometimes your mother), which was also your parent's surname.
For example: my name is Christine Ellen Woodhams.
Christine is my "first name" and it is what I am usually called
Ellen is my "middle name" and only gets used on official documents
Woodhams is my "last name" and is also my father's "last name" - his name is Roger (first name) Singen (middle name) Woodhams (last name).
Hope that helps!
For example: my name is Christine Ellen Woodhams.
Christine is my "first name" and it is what I am usually called
Ellen is my "middle name" and only gets used on official documents
Woodhams is my "last name" and is also my father's "last name" - his name is Roger (first name) Singen (middle name) Woodhams (last name).
Hope that helps!
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Replies
And just to make things confusing
In many Asian cultures, the surname is written first, with the given name (usually they have no middle names) written last.
I.e.: Takahashi Amaya, with Takahashi being Amaya's "last name".
Often the surname is written in All Caps (TAKAHASHI Amaya) or written in the Western way (either Amaya Takahashi or Amaya TAKAHASHI) to make things clearer for Westerners.
Miranda
In many Asian cultures, the surname is written first, with the given name (usually they have no middle names) written last.
I.e.: Takahashi Amaya, with Takahashi being Amaya's "last name".
Often the surname is written in All Caps (TAKAHASHI Amaya) or written in the Western way (either Amaya Takahashi or Amaya TAKAHASHI) to make things clearer for Westerners.
Miranda
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