David,

I suspect that Obama's name follows a tradition often used in his father's part of the world where a person's name is their patrilineage. For example, Obama's father's name probably means "Barack, son of Hussein (known as "Onyango" before his conversion to Islam), who was son of Obama."

"Dreams from My Father" seems to bear this out because a grandpa Hussein and great-grandpa Obama are mentioned near the end of the book. His name really ought to be "Barack Barack Hussein Obama" to indicate that he is Barack, son of a man named Barack. (This is probably where the repetitive "Boutros Boutros Ghali" name of the former UN head came from.)

In areas where vital statistic records are often non-existant, children learn their lineage as their names and those meeting them immediately know how and if they are related (and what obligations they have to each other).

"Hussein" may mean "beautiful" but I think Obama carries that middle name in honor of his grandfather more than anything else.

Thanks for your work.