Middle matters
Guess which president didn’t even have a real middle name!
Image: Tim Mossholder
Ever wonder about the names of our presidents? Turns out those middle names often tell family stories, reveal forgotten traditions, or, sometimes, just show how human our most powerful leaders really are. Some honored relatives, others used their middle names to stand out, and one didn’t have a middle name at all. Here are some fascinating tales hidden in the middle of history.
1
John Adams
Image: Mark Olsen
Middle name: Quincy
Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, was the son of the second president, John Adams. He was named "Quincy" after his maternal great-grandfather, John Quincy, and later signed his initials as "JQA" to avoid confusion with his father. A strong mind clearly ran in the family.
2
William Harrison
Image: STEPHEN POORE
Middle name: Henry
William Henry Harrison, the ninth president, was named for both his grandfather and uncle. Sadly, his presidency was the shortest in history, just one month after he caught pneumonia giving a long speech in the rain.
3
James Polk
Image: Daniel Weiss
Middle name: Knox
James Knox Polk carried his grandfather’s name with pride. Born in North Carolina in 1795, he expanded the nation’s territory by more than a third during his single term, finally stretching the U.S. from coast to coast. Quite an accomplishment for one presidency.
4
Ulysses Grant
Image: Jake Blucker
Middle name: Ulysses
Fun fact: "Ulysses S. Grant" wasn’t his real name. He was born Hiram Ulysses Grant, but a paperwork mix-up at West Point changed it forever. The "S" came later as a nickname, "US" Grant, something that fit a general far better than "H.U.G." ever could.
5
Rutherford Hayes
Image: Matt Koffel
Middle name: Birchard
Rutherford Birchard Hayes got his middle name from his mother’s maiden name. Born in 1822, he lost his father before birth but grew up to become the 19th president. He’s remembered for restoring faith in the presidency after a rough patch in American politics.
6
Grover Cleveland
Image: Manisha Raghunath
Middle name: Grover
Stephen Grover Cleveland dropped his first name early in life and stuck with Grover. It worked out well for him: he’s the only president in history to serve two nonconsecutive terms, making him both the 22nd and 24th president. That’s a comeback story.
7
William Taft
Image: Jake Blucker
Middle name: Howard
William Howard Taft’s middle name honored his grandmother’s family, the Howards. He remains the only person to ever serve as both U.S. president and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. That’s two of the toughest jobs in one lifetime.
8
Woodrow Wilson
Image: STEPHEN POORE
Middle name: Woodrow
Born Thomas Woodrow Wilson, he eventually dropped his first name and went by Woodrow instead. It sounded distinguished, and clearly, it worked for him. As our 28th president, he guided the nation through World War I and helped shape modern international relations.
9
Warren Harding
Image: Oz Seyrek
Middle name: Gamaliel
Warren Gamaliel Harding, born in Ohio in 1865, left his mark on American vocabulary by coining the word "normalcy." He wanted life to return to normal after World War I. His middle name, likely biblical, matched his calm, reassuring image.
10
Calvin Coolidge
Image: John Holm
Middle name: Calvin
John Calvin Coolidge, our 30th president, was named for his father but went by his middle name from childhood. Known as "Silent Cal," he led with few words and steady leadership during the Roaring Twenties.
11
Herbert Hoover
Image: Niko Vassios
Middle name: Clark
Herbert Clark Hoover shared his middle name with his father, Jesse Clark Hoover. Born in Iowa in 1874, he was a self-made man long before entering politics. Sadly, his presidency became synonymous with the Great Depression, but he remained known for his work ethic and humanitarian efforts.
12
Harry Truman
Image: Mike Gattorna
Middle name: S.
Harry S. Truman’s middle initial doesn’t stand for anything at all. His parents couldn’t decide between his two grandfathers, Solomon and Shippe, so they settled on "S." It’s a fitting story for a man known for making tough choices, including some of history’s most remembered.
13
Gerald Ford
Image: John Matychuk
Middle name: Lynch / Rudolph
Gerald Ford had two middle names in his lifetime. He was born Leslie Lynch King Jr., but after his mother remarried, his name was changed to Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., in honor of his stepfather. He’s also the only president who never won an election but took office after Nixon’s resignation.
