Usage name of a minor child: use of parents' names

Verified 07 August 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

Additional cases ?

For an adult

Do you want to give a username to your minor child but you don't know which name you can choose? We tell you what you need to know.

The usage name differs from the surname which is the only one inscribed on the civil status records. The usage name is name you can use in everyday life.

The ability to use a usage name is optional and is not automatic. It's a personal choice which cannot be imposed on you.

Parent(s) exercising parental authority

The parent(s) holding the exercise of parental authority may give a usage name to their minor child.

Where parents exercise joint parental authority, together they choose the common name of their minor child. Parents are advised to formalize their agreement in writing (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-1 to the circular of 15 june 2023). In the event of disagreement, the parents may refer the matter to the family judge.

Where only one parent exercises parental authority, he alone makes the decision.

Child aged 13 years and over

If the minor is 13 years of age or older, he must give his consent to the choice of his usage name (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-2 to the circular of 15 june 2023).

Possible choice of usage names

Your minor child's usage name may be:

  • A double name consisting of his name and the name of the parent who was not transmitted to him at birth, within the limit of one surname for each parent in case of double name. The order of names can be freely chosen.
  • The name of the parent who was not passed on at birth
  • The name of a single parent if it has a double name.

Parent name must be shown on the birth certificate of the child.

Example :

Simple name of minor child

Surname of the child: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

The child's usual name can be: BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER, DURAND.

Example :

Simple name of the minor child and double name of each parent

Surname of the child: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

The child's usual name may be: BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND, DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, GORCE, DURAND, DUPONT.

Example :

Double name of the minor child consisting of the name of the father and mother, and simple name of each of the parents

Surname of the child: BELIER DURAND

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

You can choose as a usage name: DURAND BELIER, BELIER, DURAND.

Example :

Double name of the minor child consisting of the name of the father and the mother, and double name of each of the parents

Surname of the child: BELIER DURAND

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

You can choose as a usage name: DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND, DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, BELIER, DURAND, DUPONT, GORCE.

Example :

Name composed of the minor child and name composed of each parent

Surname of the child: BELIER-GORCE

Father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose as a usage name: BELIER-GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER-GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT.

Example :

Dual name of the minor child and name composed of one of the parents

Surname of the child: BELIER FORCE

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose as a usage name: BELIER DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT, BELIER, GORCE.

Parent who did not pass on their last name

When the parents exercise joint parental authority, the parent who did not provide his or her last name may add his or her name, as a matter of practice, to that of his or her minor child.

He can do that without the consent of the other parent. However, it must inform him before that the child does not use this usage name. The other parent must have time to indicate his or her disagreement or, if he or she wishes, to refer the matter to the family court judge. It is recommended to keep proof that the other parent has been informed in advance.

The disagreement of the other parent and the referral to the judge do not prevent the parent from adding his name, as a matter of custom, to that of his minor child.

Child aged 13 years and over

In any case, whether the parents agree with each other or not, the child 13 years of age and older must give his consent (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-2 to the circular of 15 june 2023).

If the minor over 13 years of age does not agree, he may not bear a common name.

Adding the name for use

The name of the parent who did not provide their last name shall be added to that of the minor child as a use.

The order of the names cannot be changed. The addition of the name is done within the limit of 1er last name of each parent. Name substitution is prohibited as is the choice of the 2of part of the double name of either parent.

Example :

Simple name of minor child

Surname of the child: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

The child's usage name can be: BELIER DURAND

Example :

Double name of the minor child and double name of each parent

Surname of the child: BELIER FORCE

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

The child's usage name can be: BELIER DURAND

First mention of the usage name on an identity document

To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must:

These documents must be attached to the application file for identity documents and provided at the same counter.

Renewal of an identity document

The approach varies depending on whether the usage name is unchanged, changed, or no longer used.

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Usage name is unchanged

To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must fill in the Usage Name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

No new documents related to your usage name are required.

Usage name is changed

To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must:

These documents must be attached to the application file for identity documents and provided at the same counter.

Usage name is no longer used

Just do not fill in the section Usage Name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

You must provide the following:

  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice to delete the usage name is made by the two parents, written parental agreement (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-1 to the circular of 15 june 2023).
  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice to delete the usage name is made by the parent who has not transmitted his name to the child, evidence that the other parent has been informed in advance.
  • If the child is 13 years of age or older, agreement of the child. A model agreement is proposed in annex 1-2 to the circular of 15 june 2023.

These documents must be attached to the application file for identity documents and provided at the same counter.

You can use the chosen usage name in all acts of private, family, social or professional life.

As soon as the request is made, the administration must use the username in the letters it sends you.

You must inform the various bodies the chosen usage name.

Example :

To inform the health insurance, log in to your Ameli account (section “My steps”).

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