Choosing a last name for your child

Parents can choose together which surname their first child will have. You report the chosen surname to the municipality.

Contact

Approach

This is how you choose a different last name for your first child:

Make an appointment at the municipality for you and the other parent.
Bring both a valid ID to the appointment.
You choose the last name no later than the birth registration. But you can give your choice of name even before your child is born. Because the mother must come with you to the appointment, this is often easier than at the birth registration. Because birth registration must be done within 3 business days after the birth. For the mother it can be annoying to come to the town hall then.

Cost

Rates 2025

The choice of surname upon recognition is free.
€17.10 for an extract of recognition.

Description

You can choose whether your first child will have the mother's or father's last name. You can also give your first child two last names. One name from each parent. The order does not matter. Each subsequent child from the same relationship will be given the same last name or surnames as the first child.

You are married or in a registered partnership

Your child will automatically receive father's last name. If you wish, you do not have to pass anything on. Do you want to give your child the mother's last name, or a combination of the mother's and father's last names? Then you must pass this on.

You are not married and do not have a registered partnership

Your child is automatically given the mother's last name. Would you like to give the child the father's name? Or a combination of the surnames of the mother and the father? Then the father must have acknowledged the child. Acknowledging a child and choosing a last name can be done at the same time.

Does the child have two mothers or two fathers? Or are you adopting a child? Then check Rijksoverheid.nl for the rules.