Middle name

In several cultures, a middle name is a portion of a personal name that is written between the person's first given name and their surname. "Middle name" has also developed as a figure of speech meaning a notable or outstanding attribute of a person, as in the phrase "discretion is my middle name." It is a recurring trope in entertainment.

Quotes

• Actually, my name is Austin Powers. Danger is my middle name.
  • Austin Powers, in Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997) written Written by Mike Myers.

• Danger's my middle name! Well, actually it's Quincy, but you guys get the picture.
  • Steve Urkel in Family Matters

• Call me Eugene. It's my middle name.
  • Reference: Jerome Morrow Gattaca is a film about eugenics.

• Oh, forgiveness is my middle name. Well, actually it's LaVelle, and I'd appreciate it if you guard that secret with your life.
  • Xander Harris, Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 1 episode 4 Teacher's Pet written by David Greenwalt

• For those lucky enough to be baptised with a middle name, they don’t ever have to wonder what it would be like to be without one.
  • Franklin P. Jones.

• I can handle this. "Handle" is my middle name. Actually, "handle" is the middle of my first name.
  • Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), Friends

• And my middle name used to be Helping People. The Helping People Tick.
  • The Tick, The Tick

George: Elaine, Julie.

Elaine: Hi.

Julie: Oh, hi. Elaine's my middle name.

Elaine: Oh, mine's Ike.

• Season 6 episode 2 The Big Salad (1994), Seinfeld
• Note: It was revealed in another episode that her actual middle name is Marie. Ike is actually the nickname of the male-only names Isaac and Dwight.

• We'll put that stuff at the back, not in the window. Luxury is not our middle name.
  • Margaret Atwood, Robber Bride (414)

• I'm not a prude, I just want some respect (that's right)
  So close the door if you want me to respond
  Cause privacy is my middle name
  My last name is control
  No, my first name ain't baby
  It's Janet — Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty
  • Janet Jackson, Control (1986)Nasty

• Actually, Scarlet is my middle name. My whole name is Will Scarlet O'Hara. [pauses] We're from Georgia.
  • Will Scarlet, Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993) written by Written by Mel Brooks, J.D. Shapiro, and Evan Chandler.

• Woody, Woody, Woody… I promise that I will keep an open mind, okay? And anyway, "sensitivity" is my middle name. [opens the door] SWEET MARY IN THE MANGER!
  • Dr. Nigel Townsend, Crossing Jordan

• Well, trouble's my middle name. Actually, my middle name is Marion, but I don't want you spreading that around.
  • Z, Antz (1998) written by Written by Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz and Todd Alcott

• You might end up dead" is my middle name.
  • Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult

• Bending is my middle name. My full name is Bender Bending Rodriguez.
  • Bender the robot, from Futurama

• First name Mr, middle name 'period', last name T!
  • Mr. T, Silver Spoons (1982)