Choosing a child's last name

What is it?

With your 1st child, you can choose the last name. You can give your child your own last name or that of your partner. It is also possible to give your child the surnames of both of you. All subsequent children of you and your partner together will then automatically receive the same last name as your 1st child.

Before the birth or at the birth registration, you record the surname with the municipality.

How does it work?

If you do not choose a surname or record it with the municipality in time, the law determines which surname your child will have. Which name that is depends on your personal situation. See below which situation applies to you.

Husband and wife, married or registered partnership

Your child will automatically receive the father's last name. If you want your child to have the mother's last name, you must register it together with the municipality before or during the birth registration.

Two women, married or registered partnership

  • If the mother is pregnant by an unknown donor, your child will automatically receive the surname of the paired mother. This is only possible if the paternal mother automatically becomes a legal parent at birth. This requires a declaration of parenthood. If you want your child to have the birth mother's last name, you must register this together at the municipality.
  • If the mother is pregnant from a known donor and the duo mother acknowledges your child, your child will automatically receive the birth mother's last name. If you want your child to have the duo-mother's last name, you must register this together at the municipality.

Parents who are not married and not registered partners

Your child will automatically receive the mother's last name. If you want your child to have the father's or duo mother's last name, the father or duo mother must acknowledge your child. When acknowledging, you will then choose the last name together.

Family of two men

At the moment of a child's birth, there is always a mother. Motherhood can only end through adoption. With adoption, you can choose the last name of your 1st child. This is done in court. Subsequent children of you and your partner together will have the same last name.

2 surnames

Having a last name is important; it says something about who you are and who you belong to. There is an increasing demand from society to have more freedom of choice in choosing one's last name. For example, to express more connectedness with both families. Or to be more in line with international name law.

Therefore, starting January 1, 2024, options for choosing a last name will be expanded. From then on, parents will also have the option to choose a combination of both their surnames as the last name for their child.

Who can choose a combined last name?

The choice of a combined last name will become possible for children born from January 1, 2024. During pregnancy, when declaring the birth or when acknowledging the child, parents can register their preference for a combined surname together with the municipality. The choice is one-time and also applies to subsequent children.

What combinations are possible?

People have different types of last names. Most people have a single surname but it also happens that someone already has a double surname. In that case, these names are considered 1 surname. The combined last name is written without a hyphen in between. We give some examples of the possibilities with a combined last name in the attached infographic.

Adoption

With adoption, other combinations are possible. If the (adoptive) parents have chosen the last name of one of them or a combination thereof for their first child, then a subsequent adopted child can also be given that name. They can additionally choose the original name of the adopted child. Finally, they can combine (part of) the adopted child's original last name with the previously chosen last name of either of them. Different adopted children in the family can thus have the same last name, or different last names.

See attached fact sheet for a sample of the choices.

What is the maximum number of names that can be passed on?

There is a maximum of two name parts to this arrangement. If people with a combined last name have children of their own, they can also choose a maximum of two name parts for these children. Parts of the name will then be dropped to arrive at the combined surname.

More information

More information can be found on the Rijksoverheid website.

Frequently asked questions combined surname

I have a composite family and want to choose the same combined last name for all children. Is that possible?

No, this is not possible. The law allows children of the same parents to have the same last name. So for children of different parents, you choose different combinations of surnames. However, there is an exception when it comes to guardianship. 

I want to give my child only 1 last name.

The combined surname rule added an additional option for name choice. You do not have to choose a combined surname. 1 surname is also possible. This is the last name of one parent or the other parent. Sometimes this happens automatically, sometimes you have to go to the municipality. Read the rules for this on Rijksoverheid.nl or on the website of your municipality of residence.

Is it possible to change my child's combined last name at a later date? If so, what are the procedures for doing so?

If unmarried parents enter into a marriage or registered partnership with each other, they can again make a name choice for the child once and only on this day. You can request this in advance from the registrar. This choice is free of charge.

Through Dienst Justis, there are some ways to apply for a combined last name. There are Requirements this. A name change request through Dienst Justis costs €835. For example, a child's last name can be changed. This can only be requested by a parent with authority and both parents must agree. An adult can change the last name if his/her parents are divorced and then cared for or raised by a stepparent. 18 to 20 year olds can also have their parents' choice of name reviewed by Dienst Justis. More information can be found at www.justis.nl.

Does it also apply retroactively to adopted children born after Jan. 1, 2016, and adopted before Jan. 1, 2024?

Yes. You can arrange this with the registrar. You pay fees.

What about children born before Jan. 1, 2024, but for whom the parents still want to apply for the combined surname?

This rule applies only to children born after Jan. 1, 2024. 

Does choosing a combined last name affect other legal matters, such as inheritance, citizenship or passport applications for the child?

If the child already has a passport or identity card, this document is no longer valid. To travel, you must apply for a new identity document, with the (new) combined last name. The cost of this is for yourself.

Is the choice of a combined last name automatically implemented at the child's birth, or do parents have to actively request it?

The choice of a combined last name must be made by the parents together at the municipal office. If parents do not make a choice, then in the case of a married couple, the child will automatically receive the surname of the father or the duo mother. If the parents are not married, the child will automatically receive the mother's name. If you already have children you do not have to make another choice. The next children you have together will be given the same name as the first child of you together.

Does choosing a last name affect who has custody?

No, choosing a last name has nothing to do with having or getting authority.

My children have Dutch nationality, but I now live abroad, how can I change their name to a double surname?

Name selection can be done in the Netherlands at any civil registrar's office. You must go together to a municipality for the choice of name. If you are not in the Netherlands, you can grant power of attorney through a notary to someone in the Netherlands to do the name selection for you. You have to pay the notary yourself. The registrar can tell you what documents he needs for the choice of name.

One of the parents has a combined surname, such as a Spanish or Portuguese surname. Does this count as one name or can I pass on part of this?

The main rule is that Dutch people have one last name. This can be a double name. Dutch people who can prove that their last name is a combination of their parents' names can ask the municipality to pass part of it on to their children.

I come from a country where names can have a male or female ending. Can I pass that ending on to my child?

From January 1, 2024, this will be possible for children recognized or born thereafter.

What to do.

You and your partner go to the municipality together to have your child's last name recorded. To do this, call the municipality for an appointment with the civil registry office.

Note! Often the mother cannot be present at the birth registration. It is therefore best to visit the municipality together before the birth.

What do I need?

  • valid proof of identity of yourself
  • valid ID of your partner

How long does it take?

The municipality records your child's last name immediately.