"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 Helenor Jones

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? AW