Middle name as first names?

[tinylittlestars.livejournal.com]

I was a really big fan of the band Hanson, and was interested to find that all the males of their family go by their middle.

Parents
Clarke Walker Hanson - Goes by Walker
Diana Frances Hanson - Goes by Diana

Children
Clarke Isaac Hanson - Goes by Isaac/Ike
Jordan Taylor Hanson - Goes by Taylor/Tay
Zachary Walker Hanson - Goes by Zachary/Zac
Jessica Grace Hanson - Goes by Jessica/Jessie/Jess
Avery Laurel Hanson - Goes by Avery/Avie
Joshua Mackenzie Hanson - Goes by Mackenzie/Mackie/Mac
Zoe Genevive Hanson - Goes by Zoe

Taylor is married with 2 children
Jordan Ezra Hanson - Goes by Ezra
Penelope Anne Hanson - (Apparently) Goes by Ellie (apparently not by Penny, as Hanson's latest radio release was "Penny & Me")


Okay, so now you think I am really stalkerish, knowing all their families names etc. (being a fan for 10 years does that to you) however what I want to know is what do you think of this? and do you have any idea why a family would use a tradition like this? I guess I've always been interested.

Comments

[seren.livejournal.com]

If any of my children choose to be known by their middle name then I suppose it's up to them, but I wouldn't call my child John William (for example) if I intended for him to be known as William.

I grew up in a small village in Wales, and it was quite common for the locals to go by their middles names. My grandfather was Welsh, and his four sisters all went by their middle names (or nicknames of their middle names.. eg Meg instead of Margaret, and Lel instead of Eleri!) I don't know where the tradition comes from though, unfortunately.