Choosing a last name for your child

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

You are married or have a registered partnership

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

You are not married and do not have a registered partnership

Your child will automatically receive the mother's surname. Do you want to give the child the father's surname? Or a combination of the mother's and father's surnames? Then the father must have acknowledged the child. Acknowledging a child and choosing a surname can be done at the same time.

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

You are a legal parent of the child. Are you not? Then you must first acknowledge the child.

You let the choice be known no later than the birth declaration.

• Both parents must be present at the name selection.