What’s In A Middle Name?

I have always loved my middle name, Enrico. Not only does it reflect on my Italian heritage but also, more importantly, it is in honor of my grandfather, Enrico Vagnoni. Translated, Enrico is Henry. What a great name! Growing up, I was often reminded by brothers Mike and Joey, that I got the cool middle name. In fact, they often complained about the middle names that they were saddled with. I know that Enrico is quite distinguished, but the names Gerard and Francis aren’t that bad. Are they?

As much as Michael Gerard Vagnoni and Joseph Francis Vagnoni grumbled about their middle names, they could have done much worse, they really could have. If you don’t think so, please read on.

Take for example some of the middle names that some of the gang from Koos Inc. had to deal with:

Glen Lamont Ekern

John August Peters

Jim Ruben Weber

Harry Richard Leipzig

While the first three are obviously unusual middle names, you are probably asking yourself what’s so odd with Harry’s. Please keep in mind that we were a rather sophomoric group at Koos and that there is a rather common nickname for Richard. Think about it. See, I told you that we were juvenile.

Athletes are another group that sport unique middle names. Consider the monikers that these Green Bay Packers were given:

Bryan Bartlett Starr

Henry Wendell Jordan

Boyd Hamilton Dowler

Robert DeLafayette Jeter

Jermichael Decorean Finley

I couldn’t ignore baseball. Obviously football players didn’t corner the market on peculiar middle names. Check these out:

Cecil Randolph Hundley (better known as Randy Hundley)

Don Eulon Kessinger

Cecil Celester Cooper

Benjamin Ambrosio Oglivie

Will Nuschler Clark

Pretty strange, huh? Well, none of them come to close to that of former Milwaukee Brewer pitching coach Calvin Coolidge Julius Caesar Tuskahoma McLish. McLish was named for Calvin Coolidge, Julius Caesar, and Tuskahoma, Oklahoma. He has stated that the origin of his lengthy name is that his father was given permission to name his newborn son and took full advantage of the opportunity.

And finally, celebrities with bizarre middle names. A couple of these are so eccentric that I had to make sure to let you know who they were. The Celebs:

Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger

Leslie Townes Hope (Bob Hope)

Harry Lillis Crosby (Bing Crosby)

Edward Bridge Danson III (Ted Danson)

Truman Streckfus Persons (Truman Capote)

John Uhler Lemmon III (Jack Lemmon)

See, I told you that there were some rather unconventional middle names out there. These were much more uncommon than either Gerard or Francis. Don’t you think?

While I am quite aware that Michael Gerard Vagnoni and Joseph Francis Vagnoni were never overjoyed with the middle names that our very Catholic parents gave them, they should realize something. Not everyone can be baptized Paul Enrico Vagnoni.

Be sure to stay cool and give your opinion on the new poll on the right before you click away. Until next time…from the booth.