How To Find Someone’s Middle Name – Quick and Easy Searches

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Discovering a middle name can be a surprisingly challenging task during a people search or background check. While a person’s first name and last name tend to be very basic information that’s easy to find, the same can’t be said about the middle.

This can present a challenge since there are many instances where a search tool might show the same name for multiple people, with some that have criminal records or bankruptcies, while others do not.

That shows just how important it is to make sure the information about someone is, in fact, about the actual person you’re performing record searches on. Otherwise that not only leads to some serious potential problems, but possibly even legal ones, if not handled well.

Whatever your reason, there are many tools to help discover the middle name of someone, but it will be more challenging…and no one method is a 100% guarantee of success.

That said, assuming you know their first and last name, you have the most important information to start searching for a person’s middle name.

Is It Possible To Find Out Someone’s Middle Name Online? 

In many cases, it is possible to find the middle name of a person, but it’s not always going to be easy and it’s not possible 100% of the time. However, by using the right tools and strategies, you will increase your chances of finding the information you want.

The opening strategy for tracking down a missing middle name is:

  • Start typing in the first and last names into a search engine, like Google or Bing to see what comes up – this alone may lead to the person’s middle name
  • Look at the information provided by social media profiles
  • Check publicly available vital records that match the person’s name
  • Use people search tools to track down harder to find records that might include a middle name
  • Check out online databases

If you have an email address, see if the person listed a full name (unlikely) or a middle initial.

Having that middle initial could at least help you separate the wrong people with the same first and last names from the person whose information you want.

Let’s dive into each of these strategies so you can learn how to find someone’s information, including the middle name.

How To Find Out Someone’s Middle Name?  

There are four main steps you should use to find information on someone’s middle name, assuming the obvious that you can’t ask the person directly or someone related to them.

Follow these four steps and for the best strategy to find someone’s full name online or via phone.

Step 1: Google to Find Information

The first step should always be to run the name of the person through Google. Do a Google search for the person using just their first and last names in the search bar and see if a news story, business profile, or article comes up that gives the person’s full name.

There’s a decent chance one of these profiles will have that information, especially if it’s a forgotten blog or old college newspaper article. Several different potential results could provide the information that you’re looking for. 

If the person you’re researching often uses their full name, this step alone is likely to get the result you’re looking for.

Step 2: Search for Social Media Accounts

Social media profiles are the next best place to look when you need to find out someone’s middle name. Try looking up the person’s social media profiles on sites like Facebook, Instagram, or X (previously known as Twitter).

These are some of the most popular social media platforms and don’t just glance at the name. Do a deeper dive into the profile.

See if they’ve listed their full name on their profile. Sometimes in the “About Us” section you may find their middle name as more details are often listed in the profile or About Us section versus what’s available at just a glance.

Step 3: Check a State’s Public Records

Public records in the person’s state may include their middle name. That makes the state’s public records an excellent place to start looking since an individual’s middle name might be right there in vital records depending on the state you’re in. 

Each state has its own vital records. When you’re looking for someone in the records you’ll need to know what state they’re in, or were last in, and enter the person’s name in that state’s online database.

If the state they were in mentioned their middle name on official state documents then you’re good to go.

Try State Comptroller’s Office

The state comptroller’s office is responsible for keeping track of all public records in a particular area and if one is located nearby, stopping there in person or contacting them on the phone is a great way to potentially get help with finding out information on a person in the area.

This is dependent on you knowing where the person lives, visit your state comptroller’s website to see what kind of information they have available online. 

If this doesn’t work or isn’t possible due to privacy laws, try searching for them on national databases like WhitePages or 411.com instead of just doing an internet search engine query (like Google). 

In a good scenario, someone at the state comptroller’s office can help you find the personal information that you’re looking for, and at worst they can give you an idea of the restrictions you’re likely to run into during your search.

Step 4: Use an Online Database 

There are many people search engines online that specialize in pulling publicly available information based on a name, phone number, date of birth, and/or other various pieces of information.

Many online databases allow you to search for people based on their phone numbers. So if you have the person’s phone number, this is a great way to track them down and find out their middle name too! 

 One of our favorite online databases is called BeenVerified. You can use their website to do a reverse phone lookup (or enter the person’s full name) to get all sorts of information about them – including their middle name! 

WhitePages.com is also another fantastic online resource for finding people. They have a massive database of people’s contact information, including their middle name if they’ve listed it online.

Looking For Someone?

Use their Name, Phone Number, Email, or Address to find information.

NameEmailPhoneAddress

Middle Name Significance

The middle name is usually a family name of some kind. This might be the first name of a grandparent or parent, but not always. Many people use their middle initial instead of an actual middle name, especially with signatures.

In some rare cases they may only have a middle initial or single letter instead of a full middle name.

When it comes to finding someone, their middle name can be necessary for a few reasons. For one, it can help you to know how to address them adequately in a letter or email. It’s also an important hint to tell two or more people who have the same first and last names apart.

Additionally, the middle name can sometimes give you clues about someone’s family history or where they’re from. So if you want to find out more about someone, their middle name might be an excellent place to start! 

This will help you narrow down your search results and might even point you towards an actual person instead of just an email address with their name on it.

Takeaway – What’s The Quickest Way To Find Someone’s Middle Name?

Identifying someone’s middle name can be accomplished differently, depending on the situation. The quickest method is most likely to use an online database or state records if such resources are available for your target individual. 

Try contacting them directly and asking them their middle name if they don’t already know! But, of course, you’ll never know unless you give it a shot.

Many people prefer how they wish their name to be represented can sometimes result in a fascinating discussion as to why they chose their middle name.


Written by Shane Dayton

Shane, an MFA grad and seasoned online writer, specializes in security and privacy, using his vast state-to-state travel experiences to guide readers through the complexities of information safety in a digital world. Read more of Shane's articles.