Name of a minor adopted by a single person

Verified 15 January 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of Justice

You adopt a child and want to know what name you can give it? The choice of surname are different between simple and plenary adoption. We present you the information you need to know about the name of a minor adopted by a single person.

Please note

A specific page shows the adoption procedure.

Adoption creates a link of parentage between the adopter and the adopted. Adoption may be single or full.

In the case of simple adoption, the links with the family of origin are maintained.

In the case of adoption by the plenaryYes, there's a total failure the adopted person's ties to his or her family of origin.

Simple adoption

Choices

The adopter may give one of the names following to the adopted minor:

  • Name of the adoptee + name of the adopter. The order of the names is free within the limit of a single name for each of them in the case of double names.
  • Replace the name of the adopted child with the name of the adopting child.

Example :

Fabien Caron adopts Nathan Veron.

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

Example :

Theophile Gautier Dumas adopts Kévin Monceau Dupont.

Kevin's last name can be: Monceau Gautier or Gautier Monceau or Monceau Dumas or Dumas Monceau or Dupont Dumas or Dumas Dupont or Dupont Gautier or Gautier Dupont or Gautier Dumas.

Minor 13 years of age and over

The adopter shall collect the consent of the adopted person at the choice of his name if he is aged 13 and over.

The adopter shall indicate in his application for adoption the name chosen for the adopted child.

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

The request is done on free paper or using the form cerfa no. 15737.

FYI  

The adopter 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 must indicate that he or she has given his or her consent.

In the absence of a choice, the court in charge of the adoption procedure decides on the name of the adopted person.

The name of the adopter is placed behind the name of the adoptee.

In the case of a double name, the 1re part of the name of the adopter is added behind 1re part of the adopted person's name.

Example :

Theophile Gautier adopts Kévin Monceau

Kevin's last name is Monceau Gautier.

Example :

Theophile Gautier Dumas adopts Kévin Monceau Dupont

Kevin's last name is Monceau Gautier.

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

The adopter may also inform the authorities and bodies concerned by the new name of the adopted minor: sickness insurance, mutual insurance...

Plenary adoption

The adopted person takes the name of the adopter who replaces his original name.

Example :

Fabien Caron adopts Nathan Veron.

Once adopted, Nathan's last name is Caron.

At the same time, the court shall rule on the motion for full adoption and the name change.

The request is done on free paper or using the form cerfa no. 15742.

Please note

The adopter 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 must indicate that he or she has given his or her consent.

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

The adopter may also inform the authorities and bodies concerned by the new name of the adopted minor: sickness insurance, mutual insurance...

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