Name of minor adopted by couple

Verified 06 November 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

You adopt a child as a couple and you wonder what last name will he be able to wear? We present you the rules to know according to whether it is a simple adoption or a plenary adoption.

What applies to you ?

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Simple adoption

Possible Choices

Adopters (spouses, entered into a civil partnership or cohabiting partners) may give one of the names the following to the adopted minor:

  • Name of the adopted + name of one of the 2 adopters. The order of the names is free within the limit of one name for each
  • Replace the adopted child's name with the name of one of the adopters
  • Replacement of the adopted child's name by the two names of the adopters. The order of the names is free within the limit of one name for each.

Example :

Fabien Caron and Leila Lopez adopt Nathan Veron.

Nathan's last name can be: Caron Veron or Lopez Veron or Veron Caron or Veron Lopez or Caron or Lopez or Caron Lopez or Lopez Caron

After a simple adoption, the rule varies depending on how the new name is formed:

  • When the name of one of the adopters is added to the adopted person's name, the new adopted person's name shall constitute a indivisible compound name. It is therefore transmitted in full to the descendants.
  • When the double name of one of the adopters replaces the name of the adopted, the new name of the adopted remains a divisible double name.
  • When the two names of the adopters replace the adopted person's name, the new adopted person's name constitutes a divisible double name.

Minor aged 13 and over

Adopters (spouses, entered into a civil partnership or cohabiting partners) must collect the consent from the adopted to the choice of his name if the child is 13 years of age or older.

Adopters (spouses, entered into a civil partnership or cohabiting partners) indicate the name chosen for the adopted child in their application for adoption.

If the adopted child is 13 years of age or older, the application must indicate that he or she has given his or her consent.

The query is done on free paper or using the form cerfa no. 15740.

The choice of the adopted person's name after the adoption procedure is possible if the following conditions are met:

  • The adopters wish replace the adopted child's name with their name (substitution)
  • The adopters did not make this request at the adoption proceeding or the adopted child aged 13 and over at the time of adoption wished to keep his or her name.

The consent of the adopted child is required if he or she is 13 years of age or older.

The application must be submitted to the court which took charge of the adoption procedure.

FYI  

Adopters may apply to the court for a change of first name(s) of the adopted. If the adopted child is 13 years of age or older, the application must indicate that he or she has given his or her consent.

In the absence of a choice or in the event of disagreement, the court responsible for the adoption procedure shall decide on the name of the adopted person.

The 1er the names of the adopters in alphabetical order are added in 2from position on behalf of the adopted. If the adopted has a double name, only the 1re part is preserved.

Example :

Theophilus Gautier Dumas and Leila Martin Alain adopt Kevin Monceau Dupont.

Kevin's last name is Monceau Alain.

When the simple adoption procedure is completed, adopters can apply for the renewal of the identity card and/or passport of the minor.

Adopters may also inform the authorities and bodies concerned by the new name of the adopted minor: health insurance, mutual insurance, etc

Plenary adoption

The rules vary depending on whether it is 1er child of the following couple or children.

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1st child

The child may have one of the following names:

  • Either the name of one of the members of the couple, or a single vocable of the double name of one of them
  • Either their two names together, 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 :

Name of adopter No. 1: Dupond Durand

Adopter's name No. 2: Dupuis

Name of adopted child: Dupond Durand or Dupuis or Dupond Dupuis or Durand Dupuis or Dupuis Dupond or Dupuis Durand or Dupond or Durand

Subsequent children

The name given to 1er common child of the couple, regardless of the method of establishment of his parentageshall be given to the following children of the couple.

Example :

Eric Rollin and Fanny Dupont have chosen the name Dupont for their 1er child adopted or born on 1er October 2022.

They shall adopt by plenary adoption a 2e child on 4 January 2024. This child must be called Dupont.

The choice of the name of the next child is possible when the couple has a child born before 2005 and has not made a joint declaration of addition of name.

The Court shall at the same time rule on the request for plenary adoption and on the name change.

You can make the joint declaration of choice of name in 2 ways:

Please note

Adopters may apply to the court for a change of first name(s) of the adopted. If the adopted person is 13 years of age or older, the application for adoption must indicate that he has given his consent.

In the absence of a joint declaration of choice of name, the court responsible for adoption procedure shall decide on the name of the child.

The child takes the name of each of the two members of the couple, within 1er name in case of double name, placed together in alphabetical order.

Example :

Name of adopter No. 1: Avril Marion

Adopter's name No. 2: Gautier Diallo

Name of adopted child: Avril Gautier

When the plenary adoption procedure When the birth certificate is completed and a new birth certificate has been issued, the adopters may apply for the renewal of the identity card and/or passport of the minor.

Adopters may also inform the authorities and bodies concerned by the new name of the adopted minor: health insurance, mutual insurance, etc

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