Why was a given only 1 christian name

[Huckleberry]

I phoned my wife yesterday.

"I'm just setting off from work, do you want me to pick up Fish and Chips on my way home?"

It was met with a stony silence.

I think she still regrets letting me name the twins.

[Kay99]

 

[groom]

That reminded me of the story my mother told about how she and her identical twin got their names. Apparently it was decided to call them Maud Lilian and Martha May after grandparents. Her father was sent off to register them but on the way stopped off at the pub. Whilst there he had second thoughts and they ended up being called Joan and Vera. He had some explaining to do to his wife, but in later years Mum and her sister were very grateful!

[Greensleeves]

My father was born on 22nd June 1911, King George V's coronation day.  He was named George in honour of the King, and with no other names, whereas his siblings all had additional names.  His sister went to school the next day and announced to the class that she had a new baby brother whose name was King George.

[Craclyn]

I donīt think it has anything to do with class. My ancestors were working class and there are many with two Christian names. My parents both had two and hated having to write so much when asked for there full names so they reduced to one for my brother and I. We were also the first not to be given family names.

[loobylooayr]

Coming from a Scottish working class background my families mainly followed the Scottish naming tradition right up to my mum and dad's generation (born in the 30s). Middle names were grannies maiden names or other family surnames.
My parents broke the mould when they gave me a totally modern name and my middle name was another Christian name.

I don't think class played a part in how many forenames were given. Think it was just family preference.

Looby 

[ThrelfallYorky]

One thing I regret now was not merely adding my other half's surname to my own, instead of letting my surname lapse on marriage. It'd only have meant one more initial when signing, so 3 and a surname instead of 2 and a surname. Bit late to get round to it now, though!

[kateblogs]

I have three names (a forename and two middle), but my brother only had a first name. Apparently, my parents couldn't agree on what his middle name/s should be so he ended up with just the one. I don't think he minded though, possibly because my mum had a habit of using all my names whenever I was in trouble.

My children all have a first and middle name, apart from one who has two middle names. He was only going to have one middle name, but I was very taken by the name of a character in a book I read while I was expecting him so added it on when he was registered. He hates it and never tells anyone about it unless he has to 

My youngest son has my grandmother's maiden name as a first name, but it's a name that can also be a first name. He really likes it, both for the family continuity and the fact that it's not particularly commonplace but isn't 'odd'.

[panic]

One thing I regret now was not merely adding my other half's surname to my own, instead of letting my surname lapse on marriage. It'd only have meant one more initial when signing, so 3 and a surname instead of 2 and a surname. Bit late to get round to it now, though!

Not too late, start using it, you can call yourself anything by common usage - its just official things you can't 

I only have 1 name whilst my siblings all have middle - my mother said it was because she thought my first name long enough (3 syllables). At Uni I had a professor whose middle initial meant that the shortened version of his first name was also his initials.