This is a stupid question so sorry in advance.
In the common app,some of the names have a ‘First Name’ and 'Last name" with no middle name.So say my brother’s name is 'John David Smith".What would be the first name and the last name?
His last name is Smith.
His first name is usually John unless the parents gave him a double barreled first name of John David and registered that as his first name.
Like Anne Marie can be a first name or a first and middle depending on what the parents intended (and regisyered). Or if you’re a sitcom character played by Marlo Thomas, it can be a first and last name. ?
In some parts of the country the first and middle names are strung together verbally, so Mary Ann Smith might be called MaryAnn as if it’s one name. But on paperwork she’d list Mary as her first name, Ann as her middle, and Smith as her last. In your example, you would use John as the first name and Smith as the last name.
@austinmshauri So I just ignore the david(there’s no middle name space)?
Yup
Make sure that it matches your transcripts. Also if any if any tests are submitted they should also be consistent. If on your transcript they use Lou Ann as your first name with no middle and Smith as last, follow that closely.
For most Americans, “first name” = “John” and “last name” = “Smith”.
Or is there a national origin naming tradition that you did not specify that could be relevant? For example:
Spanish: “David Smith” is a double surname.
French: “John-David” is a compound given name.
Chinese: “John” is the surname, followed by given names “David Smith”.