Which surname can I give my child?

Same surname for all following children

The surname you choose for your first child will also be given to any other children born later to the same parents.

Read more about choosing a surname and giving your child two surnames (in Dutch).

Examples of combined surnames

From 1 January 2024, there are various options for giving a child a combined surname. This factsheet (in Dutch) gives examples of combinations.

When can I register my child’s surname?

You can register your child’s surname before the birth or when you register the birth. Both parents must go to a municipal office to register the surname in the Register of Births, Deaths, Marriages and Registered Partnerships. This cannot be done by one parent or in writing. If you plan to acknowledge parentage of your child, you can register the surname at the same time. Both parents must do this together at a municipal office. A child’s surname can be changed and registered when the child is adopted or when a court names someone as the child’s legal parent.

If you are married and you want to give your child a different surname than the one that would automatically be given, you must register this name before the child is born. If you do not, you will not be able to register the birth online. In that case, both parents must go to the Population Affairs Department at the municipality together to register the birth and the combined name.

Automatic surname

If you do not choose a surname, or if you do not register your choice in time, your child will be given a surname automatically according to law. Which name this is depends on your situation.

Parents are married or have a registered partnership

Man and woman

If you are a man and a woman who are married or have a registered partnership, your child will automatically get the man’s surname.
If you want to give your child the woman’s surname, you must have this recorded together at a municipal office, either when you register the birth or earlier.

Two women

If you are two women who are married or have a registered partnership, the following applies:

• If your child was conceived through an unknown donor, the child will automatically be given the co-mother's surname. This only applies if the co-mother automatically becomes the child’s lawful parent when the child is born. In this case, the person who registers the birth (usually the co-mother) must present a statement from the Artificial Fertilisation Donor Information Office. If you want to give your child the biological mother’s surname, you must have this recorded together at the municipal office.
• If you are the co-mother and plan to adopt the child, present the statement from the Artificial Fertilisation Donor Information Office during the adoption process instead of when registering the birth. Although you can register your child’s name during the adoption process, you can also do so at a municipal office before the adoption process is completed. If you do this, the child will be given the name of the co-mother right away, even though the co-mother’s name isn’t shown on the birth certificate yet.
• If your child was conceived through a known donor and the co-mother acknowledges parentage of the child, the child will automatically be given the biological mother's surname. If you want to give your child the co-mother’s surname, you must have this recorded together at the municipal office.

Parents are not married and do not have a registered partnership

If you are not married and do not have a registered partnership, your child will automatically be given the biological mother’s surname. If you want to give your child the surname of the father or the co-mother, the father or the co-mother must acknowledge parentage of the child. The parents can register their choice of surname at that time.

The co-mother can also adopt the child. In this case, you can register your child’s surname during the adoption process. Ask your lawyer for details about this.

Two men

A child always has a mother at birth. Motherhood can only be terminated through adoption. When you adopt your first child, you choose a surname for the child in court during the adoption process. Any following children are given the same surname as your first child.

New partner and child’s surname

If you already have a child from a previous relationship and are expecting a child with your new partner, this child does not have to be given the same surname as his or her half-brother or half-sister. This is because the child is not being born to the same parents.

If you and your new partner have more children, they will have the same surname as the first child you had together.

Changing a surname when you get married or enter into a registered partnership

If you and the other parent of your child get married or enter into a registered partnership, you can choose a new surname for your child. You can do this only once, and only on the day you marry or enter into the registered partnership. If you plan to change your child’s or children’s surname, inform the municipality where you will marry or enter into a registered partnership. Your municipality can tell you how long in advance you need to do this. The municipality will arrange for you to change the name on the day you marry or enter into the registered partnership.

Another country’s law on names

If your first child is born on or after 1 January 2024 and has another nationality instead of or in addition to Dutch nationality, from 1 January 2024 you can choose a name according to the law on names of the other country of nationality. For instance, the surname may have a male or female ending in accordance with Greek, Polish or Russian naming conventions. Each following child will be given this surname with the appropriate male or female ending.

If the other country of nationality allows you to choose a surname that is not the same as your own surname, you may do so. However, all of your following children will also be given this same surname. There is no transitional arrangement for this. This means that if you already have children born before 1 January 2024, you do not have this option. In that case, all of your children will be given the same surname as your first child together.

You can make your choice when you acknowledge parentage or register the birth of your child born on or after 1 January 2024. There is no cost for this.