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Naming and surname

How you will choose your baby's name and last name: one parent's surname, hyphenated, both, or a new one, and whether the given name honors someone.

How do we choose the baby's name and surname?

In short: Parents choose between 6 main approaches: Surname: one parent's; Hyphenated; Both as separate names; New. Given name: family or honor name; Wholly new; shared early; Kept secret. Evidence: your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide. Best settled: during pregnancy.

Evidence
Your call
Best settled
During pregnancy
Part of
Pregnancy to first birthday

Naming and surname: what are the options?

Parents usually land on one of these 6 approaches.

  1. 1. Surname: one parent's

    The baby takes one parent's last name.

  2. 2. Hyphenated

    The baby's last name joins both of yours with a hyphen.

  3. 3. Both as separate names

    The baby has both last names, unhyphenated.

  4. 4. New. Given name: family or honor name

    You choose a new last name; and the first name honors a relative or tradition.

  5. 5. Wholly new; shared early

    You choose a first name with no family history, and tell people before the birth.

  6. 6. Kept secret

    You keep the name private until the baby is born.

Naming and surname: what does the evidence say?

Your call. No outcome evidence picks a winner. Preference, culture, money and logistics decide.

no outcome research gathered; courts flag the child's name and what the child calls other adults

Sources

What else is worth knowing?

A name carries family, culture and identity, and the two of you may feel differently about tradition. The last name is a separate decision from the first name. Agreeing how you will decide helps if relatives have strong opinions.

Questions to ask each other

  • How important is it that the baby shares a name with each of us?
  • Are there family names or traditions we want to honor, or avoid?
  • How will we handle it if our families have strong opinions?

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First published 2026-10-03. Last updated 2026-10-05. General information, not medical advice.