Use name of a minor child: use of the name of the parents

Verified 23 May 2025 - Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister), Ministry of the Interior

Additional cases ?

For an adult

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

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

The ability to use a username is optional and is automatic pitch. This is 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 common name to their minor child.

Where the parents jointly exercise parental authoritytogether, they choose the name by which their minor child is to be used. Parents are advised to formalize their agreement in writing (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-1 of the circular of 15 june 2023). In the event of disagreement, the parents may refer the matter to the family court.

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 name (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-2 of the circular of 15 june 2023).

Possible choice of usage names

Your minor child's last name can be:

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

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

Example :

Simple name of minor child

Child's last name: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

The username of the child can be: BELIER DURAND, DURAND BELIER, DURAND.

Example :

Single name of minor child and double name of each parent

Child's last name: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

The child's last 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 :

Dual name of the minor child consisting of the name of the father and the mother, and single name of each of the parents

Child's last name: BELIER DURAND

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

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

Example :

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

Child's last name: BELIER DURAND

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

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

Example :

Compound name of the minor child and compounded name of each parent

Child's last name: BELIER-GORCE

Father's name: BELIER-GORCE

Mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

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

Example :

Double name of minor child and compound name of one of the parents

Child's last name: BELIER FORCE

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND-DUPONT

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

Parent who did not pass on his or her last name

When parents jointly exercise parental authority, the parent who has not given his or her last name can add his name, for use, to that of his 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 common name. The other parent must have the time to indicate his or her disagreement or, if he or she so wishes, to refer the matter to the family court judge. It is recommended to keep evidence 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 or her name as a usage to that of his or her minor child.

Child aged 13 years and over

In all cases, whether the parents agree among themselves or not, the child 13 years of age and over must give his consent (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-2 of the circular of 15 june 2023).

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

Adding the name for use

The name of the parent who did not pass on his or her last name is added to that of the minor child, for use.

The order of the names cannot be changed. The name is added up to 1er family name of each parent. Name substitution is prohibited, as is the choice of 2of part of the dual name of either parent.

Example :

Simple name of minor child

Child's last name: BELIER

Father's name: BELIER

Mother's name: DURAND

The username of the child can be: BELIER DURAND

Example :

Double name of minor child and double name of each parent

Child's last name: BELIER FORCE

Father's name: BELIER FORCE

Mother's name: DURAND DUPONT

The username of the child can be: BELIER DURAND

First mention of the user name on an identity document

To display a username on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must complete the middle name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

Attach the following documents:

  • Birth certificate (full copy or excerpt with filiation) showing the names of the 2 parents
  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the two parents, written parental agreement (a model agreement is proposed in annex 1-1 of the circular of 15 june 2023).
  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the parent who has not transmitted his or her name to the child, proof that the other parent has been informed in advance.

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

Renewal of an identity document

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

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The usage name is unchanged

To display a username on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must complete the middle name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

Attach the following documents:

  • Birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) showing the name of the 2 parents
  • If parental authority is exercised by the 2 parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the 2 parents, written parental agreement (a model agreement is proposedin annex 1-1 of the circular of 15 june 2023)
  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the parent who has not transmitted his or her name to the child, provide proof that prior information has been given to the other parent.

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

Usage name is changed

To display a username on the identity card or the passport of the minor child, you must complete the middle name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

Attach the following documents:

  • Birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) showing the name of both parents
  • If parental authority is exercised by the 2 parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the 2 parents, written parental agreement (a model agreement is proposedin annex 1-1 of the circular of 15 june 2023)
  • If parental authority is exercised by the two parents and the choice of the name of use is made by the parent who has not transmitted his or her name to the child, provide proof that prior information has been given to the other parent.

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

The usage name is no longer used

Just leave out the section middle name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

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

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

You must to inform the various bodies of the chosen usage name.

Example :

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

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