Use name of an adult: use of the name of the parents

Verified 01 July 2022 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

Additional cases ?

For a minor child

You are an adult, your family name is your father's and you wonder if you can also bear your mother's name? Any person may use the term lThe name of the parent who was not transmitted to him at birth. We'll show you what usage name you can choose and how to get that name on your papers and official documents.

Every person has a surname.

The last name figure on the birth certificate.

For example, it could be the name of the father, or the mother, or the name of your father and mother side by side.

However, it is possible to in everyday life another name, called common name.

The last name may change over the course of life.

The last name does not replace the last name which remains the only name mentioned on the civil status documents.

You can use the following as a username:

  • A double name consisting of your name and the name of the parent that was not transmitted to you at birth, within the limit of a surname, in the case of a double name, for each of the parents. The order of names can be chosen freely.
  • The name of the parent that was not passed on to you at birth
  • The name of a single parent if you have a dual name

This parent must be listed on your birth certificate.

You can choose a usage name at any age.

The chosen usage name is not definitive step.

In case of marriage, you can renounce or change your usage name to your spouse's, but you cannot combine these 2 types of usage names.

Example :

your last name is: BELIER

Your father's name: BELIER

Your mother's name: DURAND

You can choose as your name: DURAND, BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER

Example :

your last name is: BELIER

Your father's name: BELIER FORCE

Name of your mother: DURAND DUPONT

You can choose as your last name: BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND, DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, GORCE, DURAND, DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER DURAND

Your father's name: BELIER

Your mother's name: DURAND

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

Example :

your last name is: BELIER DURAND

Your father's name: BELIER FORCE

Name of your mother: DURAND DUPONT

You can choose as your username: DURAND BELIER, BELIER DUPONT, DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND, DURAND GORCE, GORCE DUPONT, DUPONT GORCE, BELIER GORCE, DURAND DUPONT, BELIER, GORCE, DURAND, DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER-GORCE

Your father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Name of your mother: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose as your name: BELIER-GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER-GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT

Example :

your last name is: BELIER FORCE

Your father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Name of your mother: DURAND-DUPONT

You can choose as your username: BELIER DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT BELIER, GORCE DURAND-DUPONT, DURAND-DUPONT GORCE, DURAND-DUPONT, BELIER, GORCE

FYI  

both parents can choose as soon as the child is born let him have their two names. In this case, this name is the child's last name.

First mention of the user name on the identity document

To display a username after the surname on the identity card or the passport, you must:

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

To renew the ID

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Your last name hasn't changed

No new documents related to the username should be provided.

You no longer want to use a usage name

Just leave the line blank Second name of the form or pre-application for identity papers

You want to use a different usage name

You must provide new proof, such as a full copy of the marriage certificate, if you wish to use it the name of your spouse.

These documents must be attached to the application file for identity documents.

Indication of the name used on other official documents

The chosen use name can be used in all acts of private, family, social or professional life.

For example, to claim a social benefit, the form may include a Use Name box.

Once requested, the administration must use the last name in its correspondence to you.

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