deuxième prénom
masculine
The English phrase 'middle name' is translated into French as deuxième prénom. If unsure, use deuxième prénom. Wiktionary also lists patronyme.
Meaning: name between given name and surname (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | Note |
|---|---|
| deuxième prénom | masculine |
| patronyme | masculine, patronymic |
In French-speaking cultures, people often have multiple given names (prénoms) listed on official documents, which is why deuxième prénom is used instead of a single 'middle name' concept.
Which one should you use?
While deuxième prénom refers to a middle name, patronyme refers to the family name or surname.
Did you know?
- In some French-speaking regions, a deuxième prénom is often the name of a grandparent or a saint chosen to provide spiritual protection.
- The word prénom is a learned borrowing from the Latin praenōmen, which originally referred to the specific name given to Roman citizens.
- Unlike in English, where a middle name can be a family surname, a deuxième prénom in France is almost always a given name.
Examples in context
- Quel est ton deuxième prénom ?What's your middle name?Tatoeba #8717553 by Julien_PDC, translation #2072327 by CK
- Danger est mon deuxième prénom.Danger is my middle name.Tatoeba #1390197 by Aiji, translation #1389722 by CM
- Quel est le deuxième prénom de Tom ?What's Tom's middle name?Tatoeba #11963147 by zogwarg, translation #3737840 by CK
- Quel est votre deuxième prénom?What is your middle name?
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucas and Manon are filling out an official form together.
- LucasEst-ce que tu as un deuxième prénom ?Do you have a middle name?
- ManonOui, mon deuxième prénom est Marie.Yes, my middle name is Marie.
- LucasIl faut l'écrire sur ce papier.You have to write it on this paper.
- ManonD'accord, je l'ajoute tout de suite.Okay, I'll add it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “middle name” translations and entries patronyme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries deuxième, prénom, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
