Choice of a child's surname by father and mother

Verified 10 March 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

You're going to have a child and you're wondering what surname you can give it to him and how to make the move? We'll 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.

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1st child

If the parentage 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 word of the double name of one of them
  • Let their two names be joined, separated by a single space, in the order chosen by them, and within the limit of one surname for each of them in the case of a double name.

The choice of a child's name cannot be exercised only once.

Example :

Father's name: Dupond Durand

Mother's name: Dupuis

Child Name: 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 (nonbreaking). He is transmitted in full. The same rule applies to a compound name following a simple adoption.

Example :

Parent indivisible compound name: Ledru-Rollin

Mother's name: Dupont

Child Name: Ledru-Rollin or Dupont or Ledru-Rollin Dupont or Dupont Ledru-Rollin

The parentage is the relationship between a child and its parents.

It shall be established by presumption of paternity, recognition, or state possession established by a act of notoriety.

For a married heterosexual couple, the establishment of a child's filiation is automatic, with certain exceptions. The father is presumed to be the father of the child. We're talking about presumption of paternity.

For a unmarried heterosexual couple, the establishment of a child's filiation is not automatic. The father must recognize the child.

For a female couple, the establishment of the filiation of a child shall be by joint recognition.

For a child not recognized by his supposed father, the establishment of filiation between the child and his father may be established by possession of the state.

Where the name chosen for a child is the name of a foreigner parent consisting of more than one term, it shall be considered to be a compound, indivisible, transmissible name in its entirety.

Example :

Father's name: Ait El Madini

Mother's name: Garcia Lopez

Child Name: Ait El Madini or Garcia Lopez or Aït El Madini Garcia Lopez or Garcia Lopez Aït El Madini

To divide the name and pass only part of it, you must provide a certificate of custom.

Inquire at the consulate or embassy of the country concerned.

Parents may give a surname to their stillborn child (or born alive but not viable and died before the birth declaration).

The child may have the name of the father, or the name of the mother, or their 2 names placed side by side, in the order they choose and within the limit of a family name.

The last name is given on the act of a lifeless child.

Parents can request a family record book if they don't have one.

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 is imposed 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 is born on 4 january 2024. That child must be called Dupont.

Parents need to make a joint statement mentioning the choice of surname of their 1er common child.

The joint declaration shall be made on the cerfa form no. 15286.

Parents sign every 2 the form on the same date.

The joint declaration shall be submitted to the registrar during the birth declaration.

The registrar shall enter the surname in the birth certificate of the child provided that the link between parentage established in respect of each parent.

Joint declaration of choice of surname

Who shall I contact

When parents have declared birth of the child to the local authorities, they can make a declaration of choice of name when requesting transcription the local birth certificate.

However, the declaration must be made no later than 3 years after the birth of the child.

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The parents are married together

If the parents don't joint declaration of choice of name, the child takes the father's name.

This lack of choice is equivalent to a choice and applies to subsequent children of the couple.

The parents are not married together

If the parents don't joint declaration of choice of name, the child shall carry:

  • 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 birth declaration, the child takes the mother's name.

This lack of choice is equivalent to a choice and applies to subsequent children of the couple.

When a woman giving birth under X indicates 3 or more first names for his child, the last one serves as surname.

The registrar writes them to the birth certificate.

If the mother has not chosen first names, the registrar chooses 3 first names. The last name is used as the last name.

If the child is adopted, he may take the surname of his adoptive parents.

Statement of disagreement

If the parents disagree on the name of their child, one of the parents must report it in writing to the registrar of his choice.

The procedure must be carried out at the latest on the day of birth declaration.

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 declaration of disagreement on the name (annex 5).

The registrar checks the declaration, puts in his visa and returns it to the parent.

Parent must deliver this document the day of the declaration of birth to the registrar of the place of birth of the child.

Who shall I contact

Child's name

The registrar shall give the child a double name, consisting of the 2 names of the parents in alphabetical order.

If a parent has a double name, the officer only uses the 1er to compose the child's name.

The name given to this child is imposed on the following children of the couple.

Example :

If the father's name is Susini and the mother's name is Delmas, the child name is Delmas Susini.

If the father's name is Susini and the mother's name is Delmas Moreau, the child name is Delmas Susini.

Parents can change the surname of their minor child by joint declaration before the registrar if the father recognized the child after the birth declaration.

Choosing a new name

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1st child

Parents have 2 options:

  • Replace the name given to the child by the name of the parent who recognized the child in 2nd
  • Match their 2 names, in the order of their choice, up to a maximum of surname 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 the child before recognition by the father: Leroy

New name of the child, after recognition by the 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 is imposed 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.

New Name Declaration

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Child under 13 years

Parents need to make a joint statement front the registrar of their choice.

If you wish, you can use the reporting template next:

Template for declaration of change of name for a minor child in case of change of filiation

Who shall I contact

Child 13 years of age or older

Parents need to make a joint statement front the registrar of their choice.

A child 13 years of age or older must give agreement in writing or orally.

If you wish, you can use the reporting template next:

Template for declaration of change of name for a minor child in case of change of filiation

Consent of a minor aged 13 or over to change his name when his filiation changes (model letter)

Who shall I contact

Please note

The 2 parents must be present front the registrar. However, if one of the two parents has a serious impediment, they may be represented. For example, if he is hospitalized. The person representing the absent parent must have a special and authentic power of attorney.

One special power of attorney must contain the object 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 child named.

One authentic power of attorney means that it is received by a sworn public officer of the state. For example, you may contact a registrar, one notary, or a Commissioner of Justice.

This power of attorney requires the public officer to travel to the parent who is prevented from attending.

You can download the circular of 26 july 2017 which contains a model power of attorney received by the registrar (annex 3-9).

Consequences of renaming

The name change is mentioned in the margin of the birth certificate of the child.

The new name applies to next children of the couple.

Joint declaration of choice of surname

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