This is an interesting question because the conventions have changed a lot over recent years. I'll describe the situation in the UK. As far as I know, the conventions are fairly similar in other English-speaking countries. As I understand it, Australia is more relaxed than the UK, while the US is slightly more formal, especially in the south. These days, first names are used in almost all situations. A man called Jack Brown, for example, will be called 'Jack' by virtually everyone: not only his friends and family, but also by all his neighbours and other acquaintances. Let's say he's a middle manager at work: he'll probably be called Jack by the staff he manages and the higher-level managers in his company. He might also be called 'Jack' when he's talking to clients and suppliers. His doctor, dentist, car mechanic and window-cleaner would probably also call him Jack if he is on good terms with them, and he might call them 'Tom' or whatever their first names are. A generation ago, it was very different. Only friends and family would have been on first-name terms, while everyone else would have called him Mr Brown. These days, it is unusual to address someone in this way - we only call people 'Mr Brown' or 'Mrs Brown' in fairly formal situations. To be honest, I really cannot remember the last time when anyone called me by anything other than my first name. NB Note that it is considered rude to address someone by just their surname. Jack Brown would only be addressed as 'Brown' if he were in the military or in a prison, or in certain rather old-fashioned boys' secondary schools. Women are almost never addressed in this way. Middle names are not generally used other than on official documents. Nobody is ever addressed by their middle name unless they choose to be called that instead of their first name. So, if Jack Brown's middle name is Peter and he prefers the name Peter, he might ask people to call him 'Peter' instead of Jack. I hope that helps.

I'm from the US, and current custom here is basically the same as what La Liseuse and Jade told you, and it has changed completely since I was a young adult in the late 1970s. When I met the parents of my partner in 1983, I expected to call them Mr LastName and Mrs LastName, and when we were introduced they did not invited me to use any other names. My partner's father passed away in 1991, and his mother didn't invite me to call her by her first name until about 10 years ago, a few years before she passed away. However, today when a friend who is about my age introduces me to a parent, they usually say something like "this is my mother/father, FirstName", and I call that parent by whatever FirstName my friend has told me unless the parent instructs me to call them by a different name.

Thanks Chantae

A woman will often change her last name to her husband's last name after she gets married. This used to be standard, but the practice is becoming a little less common today. Middle names are frequently, though not always, the mother's maiden name (family name before marriage). Also, because middle names are not frequently shared, they tend to be used by people who are very close to the person to give emphasis to emotional statements. Calling someone by all three of their names while saying something affectionate will add an extra level of sweetness to what you are saying. Alternately, when a parent calls their child by all three of their names scolding them, it gives extra weight to the scolding.

Will a woman change her last name according to her husband’s last name after she gets married?