Choice of a child's surname by father and mother
Verified 06 August 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice
You're going to have a child and you wonder what last name you can give it to him and how to do the process? We tell you what you need to know.
Please note
The rules for choosing the child's name are different for a couple of women and in the event of adoption, plenary or simple.
The rules vary depending on whether it is 1er child of the following couple or children.
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1st child
If the parentage of the child is established in respect of each of his parents, he may bear one of the following names:
- Either the name of the father, or the name of the mother, or a single vocable of the double name of one of them
- Let their 2 names side by side, separated by a simple space, in the order chosen by them, and within the limit of one last name for each of them in case of double name.
The choice of a child's name cannot be exercised only once.
Example :
Father's name: Dupond Durand
Mother's name: Dupuis
Name of child: Dupond Durand or Dupuis or Dupond Dupuis or Durand Dupuis or Dupuis Dupond or Dupuis Durand or Dupond or Durand
FYI
One compound name existing before 2005 is indivisible (inseparable). He is transmitted in full. The same rule applies to a name composed after a simple adoption.
Example :
Father's indivisible compound name: Ledru-Rollin
Mother's name: Dupont
Name of child: Ledru-Rollin or Dupont or Ledru-Rollin Dupont or Dupont Ledru-Rollin
The parentage is the family relationship between a child and his parents.
It is established by the effect of the law (designation of the mother in the birth certificate and presumption of paternity), by recognition, or by state ownership found by a act of notoriety.
- For a married heterosexual couple, the establishment of a child's parentage is automatic when the declaration of birth is made, except in exceptional cases. The husband is presumed to be the father of the child. We are talking about presumption of paternity. Maternal parentage is established by mentioning the mother's name in the birth certificate.
- For a unmarried heterosexual couple, maternal parentage is also established by mentioning the mother's name in the birth certificate. With regard to the father, the establishment of the filiation of a child is not automatic. The father must recognize the child.
- For a women who have used a third-party donor AMP, the establishment of a child's filiation with respect to the mother who has not given birth shall be by early joint recognition. In the case of a mother who has given birth, filiation is established by mentioning her name in the birth certificate.
Parentage may also be established by state ownership established by act of notoriety.
When the name chosen for a child is the name of a foreigner parent consisting of several terms, it must be considered as a compound name, indivisible, transmissible in its entirety.
Example :
Father's name: Aït El Madini
Mother's name: Garcia Lopez
Name of child: Aït El Madini or Garcia Lopez or Aït El Madini Garcia Lopez or Garcia Lopez Aït El Madini
To divide the name and pass on only part of it, you must provide a certificate of custom.
Ask the consulate or embassy of the country concerned.
Who shall I contact
Parents can give a last name to their stillborn child (or born alive but not viable and died before birth) declaration of birth).
The child may have the father's name, or the mother's name, or their two names together, in the order they choose and within the limit of a family name.
The surname is indicated on the act of a lifeless child.
Parents can request a family booklet if they don't have any.
Subsequent children
If the 2 parents appear on the birth certificate of their 1er child, the choice of the name made for this 1er child imposes himself on their next children.
Example :
Eric Ledru-Rollin and Fanny Dupont have chosen the name Dupont for their 1er child born on 1er October 2022.
Their 2e child born on january 4, 2024. This child must be called Dupont.
Parents must make a joint statement mentioning the choice of last name of their 1er common child.
The joint statement is made on the cerfa form n°15286.
Parents sign every 2 the form on the same date.
The joint statement shall be delivered to the registrar during the declaration of birth.
The registrar shall enter the surname in the birth certificate of the child provided that the parentage be established in respect of each parent.
Joint declaration of choice of surname
When parents have declared birth of the child to the local authorities, they can make a declaration of choice of name when applying for transcript the local birth certificate.
However, the declaration must be made no later than 3 years after the birth of the child.
The child's name varies depending on whether the parents are married or not.
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The parents are married together
If the parents don't joint declaration of choice of name, the child takes the his father's name.
This lack of choice is equivalent to one choice and applies to the following children of the couple.
The parents are not married together
If the parents don't joint declaration of choice of name, the child shall bear:
- Either the name of the person who recognized him first
- Either the name of his father when he was recognized at the same time by his two parents
For example, if the father recognizes the child after the declaration of birth, the child takes the name of his mother.
This lack of choice is equivalent to one choice and applies to the following children of the couple.
When a woman giving birth under X indicates 3 or more names for his child, the last one serves as last name.
The registrar register them on the birth certificate.
If the mother has not chosen first names, the registrar chooses 3 first names. The last name serves as a surname.
If the child is adopted, he may take the surname of his adoptive parents.
Statement of disagreement
If parents disagree on the name of their child, one of the parents must report it in writing à the registrar of his choice.
The procedure must be done no later than the day of the declaration of birth.
In practice, the parent has a statement of disagreement to the registrar before the birth of the child.
You can download the circular of 29 may 2013 containing a model statement of disagreement on the name (annex 5).
The registrar checks the declaration, puts his visa and returns it to the parent.
The parent must deliver this document the day of the declaration of birth to the registrar of the place of birth of the child.
Name of child
The registrar shall give the child a double name, composed of the 2 names of the parents in alphabetical order.
If a parent has a double name himself, the officer only retains the 1er to dial the child's name.
The name given to this child applies to the following children of the couple.
Example :
If the father's name is Susini and the mother's name is Delmas, the name of the child is Delmas Susini.
If the father's name is Susini and the mother's name is Delmas Moreau, the name of the child is Delmas Susini.
Parents can change the last name of their minor child by joint declaration before the registrar if the father recognized the child after the declaration of birth.
Choosing a new name
The rules vary depending on whether it is 1er child of the following couple or children.
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1st child
Parents have 2 possibilities:
- Replace the name given to the child by the name of the parent who recognized the child in 2nd
- Associate their 2 names, in the order of their choice, within a limit of last name for each of them
The choice of a child's name cannot be exercised only once.
Example :
Mother's name: Leroy
Father's name: Faure Girard
Name of child before father recognition: Leroy
New name of child, after recognition by father: Faure Girard or Faure Leroy or Girard Leroy or Leroy Faure or Leroy Girard.
Subsequent children
If the 2 parents appear on the birth certificate of their 1er child, the choice of the name made for this 1er child imposes himself on their next children.
Example :
The 1er child of Eric Faure Girard and Fanny Leroy His name is Victor Faure Leroy.
The last name of their 2e child must be Faure Leroy.
Declaration of the new name
The rules vary according to the age of the child.
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Child under 13 years old
Parents must make a joint statement in front the registrar of their choice.
If you wish, you can use the template for declaration next:
Template for declaration of change of name for a minor child in case of change of parentage
Child 13 years of age or older
Parents must make a joint statement in front the registrar of their choice.
Children 13 years of age or older must give their agreement in writing or verbally.
If you wish, you can use the template for declaration next:
Template for declaration of change of name for a minor child in case of change of parentage
Please note
The 2 parents must be present in front the registrar. However, if one of the two parents is seriously prevented, he can be represented. For example, if he is hospitalized. The person representing the absent parent must have a special and genuine power of attorney.
One special power of attorney must contain the object of mandate : thus, the power of attorney must specify that it is intended to subscribe to a declaration of change of name for the benefit of the named child.
One genuine power of attorney means that it is received by a sworn public officer of the State. For example, you can contact a registrar, one notary, or a commissioner of justice.
This power of attorney requires the public officer to move to the parent prevented.
You can download the circular of 26 july 2017 containing a model of the power of attorney received by the registrar (annex 3-9)).
Consequences of name change
The name change is mentioned in the margins of the birth certificate of the child.
The new name applies to next children of the couple.
On the same subject
Civil status rules in the case of a child who died at birth
Choice of surname for a child
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