Best way to organize names for European profiles

Question

In Europe, we have no such notion as middle name; we only have first names (generally two but up to four IFAIK). Also, in certain cases, we know for sure what was the preferred name. My Gramps database has names like Andrée [Elisabeth Marie]  with square brackets to show the second choice (see Schmid-566 for the example). On top of that she had a nickname "Ninette". So the best I saw until now is :

Proper First Name: Andrée Elisabeth Marie

Preferred Name: Andrée

Other Nicknames: Ninette

Middle Name: <empty>

Problem: now the main title of the profile and in the watchlist is Andrée Giroud, which is a shame; I would prefer to have the proper first name instead.

On top of that, her grandfather came from Germany and was probably named with german first names like Franz Xaver (profile Schmid-568), and changed them when he came in Geneva, french speaking, into François Xavier. What should be the main first name ? I guess it should be the birth one, i.e. the german. How to indicate AKA with the other names ?

Comments

One thing to keep in mind is that you can have multiple names listed in the Nicknames field. They don't show up on any lists, so you don't have to worry about it looking weird.

As for the case of the German/French names, the proper first name and last name at birth should be the German ones, since that's what he was born with. So:
Proper first name: Franz
Last name at birth: Xaver
Preferred name: François
Current last name: Xavier

That would show up on the profile as: Franz "François" Xavier formerly Xaver.

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Thanks Lianne! I was not clear enough though...

His last name was Schmid, probably born as Franz Xaver Schmid. So OK for your proposal until "Current last name: Xavier". It is his preferred middle name, and there is no such field...

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For reference: http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Name_Fields

If that needs fleshing out or something added, let me know.

Answer 1

I'm not sure wether it is the correct way but for all my profiles (99% Dutch/European) I would use the following for the profile you mention:

Proper First Name: Andrée

Preferred Name: Andrée

Other Nicknames: Ninette

Middle Name: Elisabeth Marie

Last Name at Birth: Schmid

Current Last Name: Giroud

 

Comments

Have done as proposed. Thanks.