Table of contents

1 Introduction 2 Vorname 3 Nachname 4 Künstlername 5 Change

Introduction

German names consist of a Vorname (given name) and a Nachname (family name). Both names can consist of more than one word. There are no middle names. The Vorname is gender specific.

Vorname

It consists of one or more given names. One of this has to be gender specific the others may be neutral (but nearly all are gender specific). A Roman Catholic man can have the additonal name Maria. Only previously known given names are allowed. For example "Chelsea" was forbidden to be used as a name, because it is a city name. But when Chelsea Clinton became known in Germany, this also meant that now Chelsea is an allowed female name.

Nachname

Titles of former aristocrats have become parts of the Nachname. Most Nachnamen consist of only one word. On marriage two family names can be combined into a Bindestrich-Name. There is a limit of only one Bindestrich (hyphen) in a name.

Künstlername

Pseudonyms can be used by artists and monks. If a pseudonym is widely known in public it can be added to the passport of that person and be used instead of the original name.

Change

There are only three ways to change a name:

1) on marriage: the couple can choose the name of the each of the partners or combine the two names or both can keep their name.

2) correction of a name: if the state has made an error with the name and this can be proved, the original name can be restored.

Example: Maſs became Mahs and is corrected to Mass.