B-List

The usual structure of names in the English-speaking world is a first or
given name, optional middle name(s), and a last name or surname.  An
interesting variation is the double-barrelled surname, being the hyphen-
ated combination of two surnames, such as John Smith-Jones.  Apparently,
more than two surnames can be combined,  so if John Smith-Jones married
Jane Jones-Smith, they and their offspring could adopt the (admittedly
silly) surname Smith-Jones-Jones-Smith.

There are other interesting naming conventions used in other languages
and cultures.  Wikipedia has links to various culture's naming
conventions:
  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_name#Naming_convention>

"Gymnastics with Onomastics" is another interesting article that looks
at how different languages and cultures form names:
  <http://www.langmaker.com/ml0103a.htm>

A selection of interesting naming conventions ...

* Russian Names
  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_in_Russian_Empire,_Soviet_Union_
     and_CIS_countries>
Recently I read "Crime and Punishment".  Not only was it a great book to
read, but it also provided an insight into Russian naming conventions.
Full names comprise a given name, a patronymic and a family name (e.g.
Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov).  The patronymic is not a middle name,
but rather a name based on the name of one's father (Romanovich = son of
Roman).  In formal settings Russians always address each other by the
given name plus the patronymic.  But for informal occasions, there's a
rich system of short and pet names (e.g. Sonya is the pet form of Sofya/
Sophia).

* Spanish Names
  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_naming_customs>
"In Spain, people always have two surnames and one or two names (two
 names are also called a composite name). The concept of middle name as
 we know it in English-Speaking countries doesn't exist in Spain. The
 surnames follow this system: The first one is inherited from the
 father's first surname, the other from the mother's first surname...
 (but the order can be swapped)"
See also:
  <http://klamath.stanford.edu/~molinero/html/surname.html>

* Chinese Names
  <http://houston.china-consulate.org/eng/CT/t56066.htm>
"The names of Chinese people are usually expressed as family name first
 and given name second. For example, a man called Zhang Wei has a family
 name of Zhang and a given name of Wei."

* Ancient Roman Names
  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Naming_Conventions>
"a name in ancient Rome for a male citizen consisted of three parts
 (tria nomina): praenomen (given name), nomen (gentile) (name of the
 gens or clan) and cognomen (name of a family line within the gens)."
In addition, an agnomen (or nickname) could be appended.

According to "Gymnastics with Onomastics", Brazilians can have names of
the form: [given name] [middle name] [maternal grandfather's family
name] [paternal grandfather's family name] [husband's mother's name]
[husband's father's name] -- Maria Beatriz Villela Soares Veiga de
Carualho.  No wonder many Brazilian soccer players adopt single-word
names (e.g. Pelé, Ronaldinho).  Otherwise their names would take up all
the space on the back of their shirts!
See "Why Ronaldinho Has No Last Name":
  <http://www.slate.com/id/2143404/>