> > > Personally, I've always found middle names a little weird. Is it a cultural thing? How many people on this planet have three names? How many have two? Just one? More than three?
> >
> > I know that in (some?) Spanish-speaking countries, the template for a full name is like this:
> >
> > (FirstName) (MiddleName) (PaternalSurname) (MaternalSurname)
> >
> > for everyone but married females. Married females add "de (Husband'sPaternalSurname)"
> >
> > If only one surname is used(for brevity's sake, I suppose), the paternal surname is the one used.
> >
> > > -- Dave
> >
> > Nyperold
>
> Same goes in Québec, lately. It's not a tradition, just a growing trend. Not getting into sociology, it's related to feminism rising here faster than elsewhere. Anyway, it usually goes (First name) (Usually unknow M-name) (Maternal last name)-(Paternal last name)
>
> Married female do not changes names anymore.
>
> Etienne


and then in Russia, (?and other eastern european states?) they use a patronym as well...

sam"can't remember female versh"hael