What's the point of having a middle name?

[Treize]

@nix: Well, I'm Catholic and I was never given a middle name, ever. I think I was forgotten, I guess.

You don't have to receive a middle name at Confirmation. It is pretty optional.

I agree with everyone who said that it is mainly used for further identifying people.

Does everyone in the US have a middle name? And are you obliged to have one? Can't you just be John Johnson?

No, not everyone has a middle name, but it is pretty rare for someone not to have one. If you would have to fill out some official documents that require you to write a middle name or middle initial, you would just write no middle name or no middle initial.

My middle name is James. I don't really like it. It is pretty generic, and it is the same as my father's middle name. =/

I still like the idea of middle names. It does get a little out of hand when people have two given names, two middle names, and then prefer to use there married and maiden name, though. Six names are just too much.