What were C.S. Lewis’s first and middle names?

C.S. Lewis’s first and middle names were Clive Staples.

He was born Clive Staples Lewis, and the initials of those names became the author name by which he was widely known. The “C.” stood for Clive, while the “S.” stood for Staples, a family name. Lewis generally published his books as C.S. Lewis rather than using his full given name.

As a child, Lewis was called “Jack” by his family and friends. According to accounts of his childhood, he chose the name after the death of a childhood dog named Jacksie. The nickname eventually became his normal form of address, and many friends continued to call him Jack throughout his life.

The initials can cause confusion because some readers assume that “C.S.” represents two conventional first names. It does not. Lewis’s most famous works, including The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Mere Christianity, appeared under the initials rather than the full name.