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[notaprof]

What I object to is the pomposity of using second names as initials. Most people never use their second names, so why this inanity?

Eg. Horatio Q. Hornblower instead of simply Horatio Hornblower.

What is pompous about using one's middle initial? It's shorter than the full last name, and it does distinguish me from my father as well as a number of other professors on Google Scholar. There is no dark "reason" to "hide" my middle name.

Confused,
chessplayer

Perception is what is important here. It feels pompous to use just the initial. I suggest you use the full name instead.

Most people have embarassing middle names.  Isn't that the purpose of middle names?  Therefore the initial is used for the sake of secrecy and avoidance of ridicule on the playground.

[helpful]

What I object to is the pomposity of using second names as initials. Most people never use their second names, so why this inanity?

Eg. Horatio Q. Hornblower instead of simply Horatio Hornblower.

What is pompous about using one's middle initial? It's shorter than the full last name, and it does distinguish me from my father as well as a number of other professors on Google Scholar. There is no dark "reason" to "hide" my middle name.

Confused,
chessplayer

Perception is what is important here. It feels pompous to use just the initial. I suggest you use the full name instead.

Most people have embarassing middle names.  Isn't that the purpose of middle names?  Therefore the initial is used for the sake of secrecy and avoidance of ridicule on the playground.

Point taken. My middle name is very embarrassing. However, I wouldnever thus use the initial because everyone then asks me what it stands for. Best  to not advertise the horrendous possibility that someone will discover it.

[bibliothecula]

I use all three of my names (first, middle, and birth last). My name is fairly unusual even without the middle, but I use it to honor the iltellectual strivings of the person whose name it originally was in my family. Does that make sense? A very few times people have confused my middle name with a birth last name, and my birth last name with an adopted last name, but it is rare. I like being all three names.