secondName

SecondName is a term used to refer to a second given name in personal naming. It is most closely associated with the concept of a middle name in many English-speaking and Western naming conventions, but its meaning and position vary by culture and language. In some traditions, people have multiple given names, while in others a second name may be an additional ceremonial or religious name, a patronymic or matronymic, or an adopted alias.

In typical Western usage, a full name may include a first name, a second name (the middle name), and a surname. For example, in John Fitzgerald Kennedy, "Fitzgerald" is the middle name. In cultures such as Spain or many Hispanic-speaking countries, individuals may have two or more family names, and the term "second surname" refers to the second family name rather than a middle name.

In data collection and software, the term secondName appears as a field label alongside givenName, middleName, or surname. Practices vary; some systems use middleName for the second given name, while others use secondName. Ambiguity can arise when names are entered in different orders or when people have multiple given names, multiple surnames, or are non-binary or culturally diverse.

Legal considerations include how official documents define and require names. Privacy and consent concerns arise when collecting or displaying second names, and some individuals choose not to disclose or use a middle name publicly. Understanding local naming conventions is important for accurate identification, record-keeping, and interoperability across databases.

See also: middle name, given name, surname, full name, name field.