---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The name given me by my mother was…"
description: "\"“The name given me by my mother was, \"Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey.\" I, however, had dispensed with the two middle names long before I left Mar..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/frederick-douglass-859_frederick_the-name-given-me-by-my-mother-was-frede_1921831.png"
---

#  The name given me by my mother was, "Frederick Augustus…

![“The name given me by my mother was, &quot;Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey.&quot; I, however, had dispensed with the two middle names long before I left Maryland so that I was generally known by the name of &quot;Frederick Bailey.” quote by Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/frederick-douglass-859_frederick_the-name-given-me-by-my-mother-was-frede_1921831.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/frederick-douglass-859_frederick_the-name-given-me-by-my-mother-was-frede_1921831.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c2/frederick-douglass-859_frederick_the-name-given-me-by-my-mother-was-frede_1921831.png)

> ““The name given me by my mother was, "Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey." I, however, had dispensed with the two middle names long before I left Maryland so that I was generally known by the name of "Frederick Bailey.””

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He shortened his long given name to a simpler one for ease of use and identity.

**In simple terms:** He chose a simpler name for practicality.

Key Takeaway

Simplify identifiers for clarity.

Themes

identity personal branding practicality

Mood

practical reflective

Type

personal narrative historical

When to use this quote

- formal introductions
- legal documents
- daily interactions

Key Concepts

self‑presentation social adaptation

Questions to Reflect On

- How does name length affect perception?
- When is it appropriate to alter a name?

A Different Perspective

Choosing a short name may obscure family heritage.

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[Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/)

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