When a child is registered at birth he/she is registered with a given name which may be different from the baptismal name.
It is very common for a Mexican person to have more than one name. Many people who have two names will be called by both names together as: Maria Elena, Miguel Angel, Rosa Maria, Juan Jose, etc. The names are two names considered as one. They are usually used as one name, not a first name and middle initial. It is very uncommon for these people to have a middle initial. This usually is changed as soon as they come to the United States since everyone here is supposed to have a middle initial.
Many people have only one name and when they come to the U.S.A. they are confused by people asking for their second name.
Most people in Mexico and Latin American countries use both their father's last name and their mother's last name, in that order. The reason for this is mainly for identification because many people share the same names (both first and last names).
In Mexico, a woman retains her last name and never takes her husband's last name.
It seems the biggest confusion here is the last name. If a patron gives two last names, which is his paternal last name and which is his maternal last name?
Most Hispanic persons use their given name, then their paternal last name and last, their maternal last name.
Example: Caridad Bravo Adams
Caridad - given nameHer last name is Bravo Adams.
Often the safest way to ask a patron for his name is to ask for first name, then father's last name. Then ask if they have a middle initial. This way you never get the wrong last name. Or, if the patron is a woman, ask her if she goes by her father's or her husband's last name.Go to Indochinese naming system.
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