Choosing a child's last name

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.

You can give your first child if born on (or after) Jan. 1, 2024, the last names of both parents. No more than 2 names may be given. This double surname also applies to all subsequent children of the same parents. It will not be mandatory to choose a double surname.

Transitional

If the eldest child was born on (or after) January 1, 2016, parents can take advantage of a transitional arrangement. This transitional arrangement is valid for 1 year.

Foreign nationality

• Does your child have no Dutch nationality, but one or more foreign nationalities? Then the foreign rules determine the options for surname choice.
• Does your child have more foreign nationalities?
  Then you may choose which foreign rules determine the surname choice.

For more information about the choices, contact the government of your child's nationality(ies). Each country has its own rules about choosing a last name. The Netherlands usually recognizes these rules.

You and your partner go to the municipality together to have your child's last name recorded.

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

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

Online a Make an appointment an appointment

Make an appointment an appointment by phone by calling 14 045.

You and your partner go to the municipality together to have your child's last name recorded.

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

The municipality records your child's last name immediately.

What surname can I choose for my child? | Rijksoverheid.nl

You can read more about the surname chosen and the possibility of giving your child 2 surnames here.

The fact sheet "Expanding name choice: combined surname" gives examples of the different combinations.

https://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/aangifte-geboorte-en-naamskeuze-kind/vraag-en-antwoord/veelgestelde-vragen-over-de-gecombineerde-achternaam

Extension of name choice: combined surname | Publication | Rijksoverheid.nl