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Naming law and name declarations

Article

Surnames that appear on foreign documents and certificates are not always automatically valid under German law. You may need to make a name declaration to register the desired name.

The reform of German naming law came into force on 1 May 2025. Among other things, it is now possible for spouses and children to take a compound surname under German law.

Further information is available from the Federal Ministry of Justice, which has published FAQs on the new law.

The information provided here on naming law is not legally binding, but has been carefully compiled for you and is regularly updated. The legal situation has changed frequently, may keep changing, and some elements are subject to different interpretations.

Article

Name declaration for minor children

The name of a German child was previously governed by German law, regardless of the entry in foreign birth certificates. On 1 May 2025, the reform of German law regarding married and birth names and of international naming law came into force.

Article

Name declaration for adult children

A name declaration may also be necessary in the case of a child of legal age who is applying for a German passport for the first time. In addition, since 1 May 2025, people of legal age can redefine their current birth name once in accordance with the new options through a name declaration.

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Article

Declaration of married name

On 1 May 2025, the reform of German law regarding married and birth names and of international naming law came into force. This creates new rules and options for both German and binational families.