> My middle name is sort of a family tradition.
> For about four generations, the eldest daughter
> has been given the mother's first name as a
> middle name.
>
> Ellen
> Ethel Ellen
> Louise Ethel
> Jessica Louise (me!)
>
> My mother hates her middle name and if she ever
> discovers this she will maim me. ;-)

That's the way it was in my family, too.

Henry
Lawrence Henry
Michael Lawrence

It would have continued on to Eric Michael if my mom hadn't given me her maiden name instead (it's rather uncommon, and it didn't look like her brother would be carrying on the name any time soon). I don't know whether I'm going to restart the tradition and give my eventual son the middle name Eric, give him Sleator, or give him something else entirely. Who knows, I may never even have a son.

-Eric "Michael" Sleator
Sun 11 Nov A.D. 2001