Usage name: use of the name of his wife or husband
Verified 21 July 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior
You are married and you are wondering if you can wear the last name of your spouse as a common name? 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 possibility to use a usage name is optional and is not automatic. It is a personal choice which cannot be imposed on you.
Whether you are a man or a woman, you can use as a usage name the last name the person you are married to.
You can use as usage:
- or the last name of your spouse,
- either your last name next to your spouse's last name in the order you want, and within the limit of one last name for each.
Example :
Simple name of the 1er husband and double name of 2d spouse
Simple name of the 1er spouse: BELIER
Dual name of the 2d spouse: MARTIN AUBERT
The 1er spouses may choose the following names for their use: MARTIN AUBERT, BELIER MARTIN, MARTIN BELIER, BELIER AUBERT, AUBERT BELIER.
Example :
Double name for each spouse
Name of 1er husband: BELIER GORCE
Name of 2nd Husband: MARTIN AUBERT
The 1er The spouse may choose the following names as his or her usual name: BELIER MARTIN, MARTIN BELIER, GORCE MARTIN, MARTIN GORCE, GORCE AUBERT, AUBERT GORCE, BELIER AUBERT, AUBERT BELIER, MARTIN AUBERT.
Example :
Compound name for each spouse
Name of 1er Husband: BELIER-GORCE
Name of 2nd Husband: MARTIN-AUBERT
The 1er The spouse may choose the following names as his or her usual name: BELIER-GORCE MARTIN-AUBERT, MARTIN-AUBERT BELIER-GORCE, MARTIN-AUBERT.
Example :
Dual name of the 1er spouse and name composed of 2nd spouse
Name of 1er husband: BELIER GORCE
Name of 2nd Husband: MARTIN-AUBERT
The 1er Spouse may choose the following names as their usual name: BELIER MARTIN-AUBERT, MARTIN-AUBERT BELIER, GORCE MARTIN-AUBERT, MARTIN-AUBERT GORCE, MARTIN-AUBERT.
Warning
You may not use the name of your cohabiting partner or Civil partnership partner as your usage name.
No, the choice of a usage name has no effect on the last name of your common child.
Thus, your child's last name can be your name, your spouse's name, or your two names together.
Your common child's last name may be the same or different from your usual name.
FYI
You can also choose a usage name for your minor child.
After a divorce, you lose the use of your husband's or wife's name.
However, you may retain the use of the license with the consent of your ex-spouse or ex-wife, or with the consent of the judge.
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With the consent of your ex-husband or ex-wife
You may retain the use of your ex-spouse's name with his consent. This agreement must be formalized in writing.
The agreement can be temporary. For example, up to the majority of the youngest child.
The agreement can be limited to your professional activity.
Please note
Your ex-husband or ex-wife can at any time ask the judge, via his lawyer, to cancel this agreement.
With the agreement of the judge
The judge may allow you to continue using the name of your ex-spouse. You can ask the judge for permission at the time of or after divorce.
You must justify a particular interest for yourself or your children. This is the case, for example, if you are known by this name in your professional activity.
The agreement can be temporary. For example, up to the majority of the youngest child.
The agreement can be limited to your professional activity.
FYI
Authorization to use the name of the former spouse ceases in case of remarriage.
Yes, you can continue to use the name of your deceased spouse as usage name.
You have no steps to take.
If you wish, you can include the mention on your papers widower or widow in front of last name of your spouse. However, this addition is only possible if your usage name is the name of your spouse. Simply tick this choice in the relevant form.
Example :
Your birth name is Dupont.
The name of your deceased spouse is Martin.
You used Martin as a common name instead of your birth name Dupont.
You can continue to use Martin as a common name.
You can choose to include the widower statement: Dupont widower Martin.
Example :
Your birth name is Dupont.
The name of your deceased spouse is Martin.
You used Dupont Martin as a common name.
You can continue to use Dupont Martin as a common name.
FYI
In case of remarriage, you can no longer include the last name of your deceased spouse on your identity card or any other administrative document.
First mention of the common name on the identity document
To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport, you must:
- Fill in the section Usage Name on the form or pre-application for identity papers
- Check if the civil status of the place of birth is dematerialized.
If it is dematerialized, you do not have to provide a document as long as the mention of the marriage has been added on the birth certificate.
Otherwise, you have to provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) less than 3 months of age mentioning marriage, or full copy of the marriage certificate less than 3 months old.
These documents must be attached to the application file for identity papers and provided at the same counter.
FYI
Since the usage name is optional, there is no time limit for the usage name to be entered on identity documents. You can do this whenever you want.
Renewal of an identity document
The approach varies depending on whether the usage name is unchanged, modified, or no longer used:
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Usage name is unchanged
To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport, you must fill in the heading Usage Name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.
No new documents related to your username are required.
Usage name is changed
Your usage name is changed, for example, following a divorce or death.
To include a usage name on the identity card or the passport, you must:
- Fill in the section Usage Name on the form or pre-application for identity papers
- Check if the civil status of the place of birth is dematerialized.
If it is dematerialized, you do not have a document to provide provided that a marginal mention has been added to the birth certificate.
If not, you must provide a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) from less than 3 months.
These documents must be attached to the application file for identity papers 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 can use the chosen usage name in all acts of private, family, social or professional life.
Once the request is made, the administration must use the username in the letters it sends you. You must inform the various organizations the chosen usage name.
One online service allows a change of name to be reported to the health insurance and family allowance fund (Caf):
Declaration of change of usual name (name of spouse)
FYI
If you no longer want the usage name to be used, just inform your interlocutors. You don't need to provide proof.
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For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.
Please note: the service does not have access to users' personal files and cannot therefore provide information on their progress.
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The informants who answer you belong to the Department of Justice.
- House of Justice and Law
Use of her spouse's name as a usage (Article 225-1)
Effect of divorce on the common name (section 264)
Effect of body separation on usage name
Use of the usage name by the administration on request (Article L111-3)
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