I have tried Google but I’m having trouble finding a conclusive answer.
The SSA website says “given names,” which should mean middles as well, but some name sites have lamented in blog posts the lack of middle name popularity info.
I started wondering because [name]Elizabeth[/name] is #11. And I realized I know one female of any age with the first name [name]Elizabeth[/name], but I can name 7 off the top of my head who have it as a middle.
Does anyone know if the SSA popularity list includes use as a middle name, or just first?
[name]How[/name] do you know? LOL, that sounds rude and I’m sorry. I’m not doubting your answer, just curious as to how this was determined. And why I couldn’t find the answer. Thanks!
I’m having trouble finding a direct statement of the fact right now though from reading naming blogs for years I know that the social security site does just include first names. Also, if they were including middle names then names like [name]Rose[/name], [name]Marie[/name], and the like would have much higher ratings. Two of my kids have an [name]Elizabeth[/name] in their classrooms this year. [name]One[/name] goes by [name]Beth[/name] the other by [name]Liz[/name]. [name]Elizabeth[/name] is high on my list and I’d call her by her full name and hubby plans to call her [name]Libby[/name].
I don’t know about SSA, but the official list in [name]Alberta[/name], [name]Canada[/name] where I live releases a list of [name]EVERY[/name] name used in the year, along with the number of times it was used. I know they don’t include middles because when I look at the year my daughter was born, her middle name isn’t listed at all. So if the SSA has some kind of complete list like that you could maybe figure it out for sure that way?
I’m having trouble finding a specific source as well, but I’ve always read that it was first names only. The rankings also do not recognize spaces or punctuation, so [name]Ava[/name] [name]Elizabeth[/name] (either as first middle or double-barreled first) would be recorded as one name, Avaelizabeth. Punctuation marks like hyphens and apostrophes (as in D’[name]Angelo[/name] or [name]Mary[/name]-[name]Kate[/name]) are removed ([name]Dangelo[/name] and Marykate.)
Plus, if middles were counted, [name]Marie[/name] and [name]Rose[/name] would probably rank waaaaaay higher than 599 and 291.
Thanks y’all, that def makes sense about [name]Rose[/name] and [name]Marie[/name]. [name]Grace[/name] would probably be #1. I guess it’s just chance I don’t know any Elizabeths.
Thanks!