Is there an Italian custom of using given names?

[mdvukas]

I have been coming across a number of relatives that were called by their middle names and not their given name. Has anyone else come accross this ? Could it be some sort of Catholic religious custom?

Ex: Florentina Theresa Spino but went by and was called "Theresa"

I have many examples of this in my family.

[misbris]

Just a thought

If many cousins are named after the paternal or maternal grandparents, use of a middle name may help distinguish them from each other.

(Especially if they are close in age)

[mdvukas]

I've not come across the multiple same name cousin thing but I do have alot of examples of this. It can get confusing in record searches.

I've only gathered records from US sources so far. I'm thinking about trying to send for a few from Italy but I not sure what first name to use. I know that women in Italy keep their maiden names and are buried under their maiden names but I wanted to know if there was something about the given name?

[c6mitchell]

http://italianfamilysearch.com/given_na ... tions.html

This website gives an explanation. I am sure there are others out there.

In my family most of my aunts and uncles had a given name and were called another nickname for the rest of their lives. Confusing! On one side of my family, my grandfather (who died young) was Giuseppe and I believe there were 10 or 12 of his children/grandchildren named Joseph either first or middle name. Also had an infant die and the next son was given the same name.

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Carolyn