docs: document middle_name_as_last flag (#133)

Author: derek73

docs/customize.rst

@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ Other editable attributes
 * :py:obj:`~nameparser.config.Constants.suffix_delimiter` - additional delimiter used to split suffix groups after comma-splitting, e.g. ``" - "`` for names like ``"Jane Smith, RN - CRNA"``. Defaults to ``None`` (disabled).
 * :py:obj:`~nameparser.config.Constants.initials_separator` - string placed between consecutive initials within the same name group (after the delimiter). Defaults to ``" "``, so ``"A. K."``; set to ``""`` for compact ``"A.K."``.
 * :py:obj:`~nameparser.config.Constants.patronymic_name_order` - If set, detects Russian formal-order names (``Surname GivenName Patronymic``) via a trailing East-Slavic patronymic suffix and rotates the parts to Western order (``first=GivenName``, ``middle=Patronymic``, ``last=Surname``). Opt-in; see subsection below.
+* :py:obj:`~nameparser.config.Constants.middle_name_as_last` - If set, folds middle names into the last name (``.last`` becomes what ``.surnames`` already was, ``.middle`` becomes empty). Opt-in; see subsection below.
 
 
 Russian Formal Name Order
@@ -117,6 +118,29 @@ patronymic-form surnames such as ``"David Michael Abramovich"``. Enable this
 flag only when your data is predominantly Russian formal-order names.
 
 
+Suppressing Middle Names
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Some naming systems have no middle-name concept — everything after the given
+name is lineage or family (e.g. Arabic patronymic chaining: given + father +
+grandfather + family). Enable ``middle_name_as_last`` to fold the middle name
+into the last name instead of splitting them::
+
+    >>> from nameparser import HumanName
+    >>> from nameparser.config import Constants
+    >>> C = Constants(middle_name_as_last=True)
+    >>> hn = HumanName("Mohamad Ahmad Ali Hassan", constants=C)
+    >>> hn.first, hn.middle, hn.last
+    ('Mohamad', '', 'Ahmad Ali Hassan')
+
+The fold applies uniformly to comma input too, so both written forms of a name
+converge on the same result::
+
+    >>> hn2 = HumanName("Hassan, Mohamad Ahmad Ali", constants=C)
+    >>> hn2.first, hn2.last
+    ('Mohamad', 'Ahmad Ali Hassan')
+
+
 Splitting last-name prefix particles
 -------------------------------------
 

docs/release_log.rst

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ Release Log
       ``middle="ahmed"``, ``last="salem"``). Disable via
       ``CONSTANTS.first_name_prefixes.clear()``. **Default-on: changes parsing
       output for names with these prefixes.** (#150)
+    - Add ``middle_name_as_last`` flag to ``Constants`` and ``HumanName`` for opt-in folding of middle names into the last name, for naming systems with no middle-name concept (e.g. Arabic patronymic chaining) (#133)
 * 1.2.1 - June 19, 2026
     - Fix ``initials()`` interpolating the literal ``None`` for empty name parts when ``empty_attribute_default = None`` (e.g. ``"J. None D."``); empty parts now render as an empty string and a fully-empty result returns ``empty_attribute_default``
     - Add ``python -m nameparser "Name String"`` command-line helper that prints a parsed name