French Parliament approves law allowing citizens to change their surname

In 2020, 4,293 people requested authorisation to change their surname in France. © AFP/Philippe Huguen

French deputies have given the green light to a law allowing citizens to change their name more easily.

The Assemblée nationale overwhelmingly passed the bill which makes it easier to replace the surname received at birth with the one of the other parent.

But it can only be done once.

The law - championed by the LREM deputy Patrick Vignal - allows an adult to go along to their town hall from 1 July and ask to take or add the name of his or her other parent.

• France is to make it easier for citizens to take their mother's name

Under the old legislation, the Ministry of Justice had to sanction the request which could only be made if the surname had been discredited, had pejorative connotations or was in danger of dying out.

Vignal, a deputy in the Hérault region of southern France, hailed the law as a symbol of social progress.

Je vois dans cette #PPL un symbole, une nouvelle manière de fabriquer la loi qui régit notre vie sociale.
Nous, les parlementaires, devons être les meilleurs avocats et représentants de nos concitoyens. Ils ne veulent pas consommer la République, mais en être coproducteurs ! pic.twitter.com/QrIJFoL5pj

— Patrick Vignal (@PatrickVignal) February 25, 2022

"We parliamentarians must be the best advocates and representatives of our fellow citizens," he added.