On 02/02/2015 22:35, Ann Watson wrote: > On 02/02/2015 3:21 PM, hownhelcymru wrote: >> "It's a Catholic practice but not necessarily widespread. When you are >> baptised you get a baptismal (saint's) name that may or may not be one >> of your existing names. In some cases that name may get adopted as part >> of the person's name in later life. I've no idea how common a practice >> it is but it may explain why someone with no middle name at birth >> acquires one in later life." >> >> As a life long catholic with scottish and irish roots I have not come >> across this practice. [That is why I asked whether this was a >> peculiarly English custom] >> >> I have not come across an instance of a person having a different >> baptismal name to his/ her registered name. >> >> A saint's name, chosen at Confirmation, has been added to secular >> documentation in some instances, but not as a rule. >> Thank you for the information > > I gather if one of your registered names is a already a saint's name or > a variation thereof, you don't need one added at baptism? > Not necessarily :-) I didn't get one at baptism but then I've got two saints names already! However I did at Confirmation. -- Graeme Wall This account not read, substitute trains for rail. Railway Miscellany at <http://www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail>

On 03/02/2015 3:24 AM, Graeme Wall wrote: > On 02/02/2015 22:35, Ann Watson wrote: >> On 02/02/2015 3:21 PM, hownhelcymru wrote: >>> "It's a Catholic practice but not necessarily widespread. When you are >>> baptised you get a baptismal (saint's) name that may or may not be one >>> of your existing names. In some cases that name may get adopted as part >>> of the person's name in later life. I've no idea how common a practice >>> it is but it may explain why someone with no middle name at birth >>> acquires one in later life." >>> >>> As a life long catholic with scottish and irish roots I have not come >>> across this practice. [That is why I asked whether this was a >>> peculiarly English custom] >>> >>> I have not come across an instance of a person having a different >>> baptismal name to his/ her registered name. >>> >>> A saint's name, chosen at Confirmation, has been added to secular >>> documentation in some instances, but not as a rule. >>> Thank you for the information >> >> I gather if one of your registered names is a already a saint's name or >> a variation thereof, you don't need one added at baptism? >> > > Not necessarily :-) I didn't get one at baptism but then I've got two > saints names already! However I did at Confirmation. > > I had two saints' names at baptism as well and unintentionally added a third when I later decided to adjust my name. My mother was nominally Roman Catholic; with a Jesuit maternal uncle she had to be, but baptism was the extent of our involvement with Roman Catholicism. AW