Report the name of the child to the registry office after birth

You have the following options for the name:

First names

If both parents have custody, they can jointly determine the first name of their child.
If only one parent has custody, that parent may choose the first name.

You can choose the first name yourself. Not permitted are names

• which by their nature are not first names, such as names of goods, fantasy names, disparagements or
• which are detrimental to the welfare of the child.

Tip: First names contained in first name directories are unproblematic. These are available in bookshops or on the Internet.

Surname (birth name)

When determining your child's surname (also called birth name), you as parents must consider the following:

• You are married to each other and have a married name. The child will then be given your married name as its birth name.
• You are married to each other but do not have a married name. You can then determine either the mother's or the father's surname as the child's name at birth.This provision then also applies to all further children.
• They are not married to each other and one parent has sole custody of the child. In this case, the child is given his or her family name. As the parent with custody, you can also give the child the surname of the other parent. However, this is only possible with the other parent's consent.
• You are not married to each other but have joint custody. In this case, you can choose either the mother's or the father's surname as the child's name at birth.

Note: In the case of children with foreign citizenship, the naming is usually regulated by the law of the state to which they belong. Detailed information can be obtained from the embassy or consulate of the respective country.