[njkleiner]

While on the topic of names, could we discuss the difference between given name(s) and middle names and the implications this has on anglocentric software/database design?

While middle names might be common in the anglosphere, in other countries (e.g. Germany) it is common to have multiple given names, which is not the same as having a single given (first) name followed by zero or more middle names.

Here is a simplified version of how it works in Germany:

Informally, people usually go by exactly one of the given names, but notably, this can be any one of the multiple given names, since these have equal status by law (this is different from going by your middle name, which have other legal implications, depending on the jurisdiction).

Using all given names is usually only required for official purposes (e.g. on a passport). Note that using a combination of more than one (but not all) of the given names or changing the order (without doing an official name change) is not allowed. A person can, of course, choose to use all given names in day to day life too.

This means that a person with the given names Foo Bar and the family name FizzBuzz may use any of the following names:

- Foo FizzBuzz

- Bar FizzBuzz

- Foo Bar FizzBuzz

Note that it is perfectly legal for this person to go by Bar FizzBuzz even though "Bar" is not their first name (of the given names).

Also note that changing your given names (other than their order) is not easily possible for most people (according to current law), so if you require someone to give you their full name (here Foo Bar FizzBuzz) for legal reasons, please also give the user the option to at least state a simplified version of their legal name for display purposes (such as any single one of their given names which may not be the first).

TL;DR

Do:

- Allow people to enter multiple given names, even if you also ask for middle names separately

- Consider that the same person may use a different single given name for different purposes (e.g. basic account details vs. name details in the shipping address)

Don't:

- Prompt for the full name (including all given/middle name, or the family name) unless you have to for legal reasons; if you do have to, at least let the user pick another name for display purposes, which may be derived from their full legal name in unexpected ways

- Omit any of the multiple given names because "middle names are optional" or "not part of the legal name"

- Forcibly abbreviate the remaining given names after the first given name

- Drop any part of a given or family name if the name consists of multiple components separated by a dash