Use name of an adult: 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 a minor child

You are an adult, your family name is that of your father, and you wonder if you can also carry, as a usage, the name of your mother? 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.

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 family name for each of them 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 you at birth
  • The name of a single parent if you have a dual name.

Parent name must be included on your birth certificate.

You can choose a usage name at any age.

You can change your usage name. The choice is not final.

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 :

You have a simple name

Your last name: BELIER

Your father's name: BELIER

Your mother's name: DURAND

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

Example :

You have a simple name and each of your parents has a double name

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 :

You have a double name made up of your father's name and your mother's name and each of your parents has a simple name

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 :

You have a double name made up of your father's name and your mother's name and each of your parents has a double name

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, GORCE, DURAND, DUPONT, BELIER

Example :

You have a compound name and each of your parents has a compound name

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 :

You have a double name and one of your parents has a compound name

Your last name is: BELIER FORCE

Your father's name: BELIER FORCE

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  

The 2 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 an identity document

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

Attach a birth certificate (full copy or extract with filiation) showing the name of the 2 parents.

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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Your last name is unchanged

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

No new documents related to your username are required.

You want to use a different usage name

To include the username on the identity card or passport, you must complete the middle name on the form or pre-application for identity papers.

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 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 your 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”).

FYI  

If you no longer want the username to be used, just inform your interlocutors. You don't need to provide proof.

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