Use of birth name in France

 

In France, a woman’s birth name appears on all official documents.

While it is common for women from nations such as Ireland, Australia, UK and the USA, to change their name on passports and driving licences when they get married, in France these documents remain in the name you were born with.

Upon marrying, a woman in France gains the right to use her spouse’s surname, but it never becomes her actual name. For instance, Monsieur Dubois’s wife may be known as Madame Dubois but her passport, driving licence and all other official documents remain in the name she was born with.  

For all administrative dealings, Madame Dubois will still be identified by her birth name, Madame Chevalier. Legally speaking – public servants are not allowed to call a citizen by any other name than the one shown on their birth certificate.

In the wake of the revolution, a law was passed in August 1794 stating, “No citizen can use a first name or surname other than that written on their birth certificate”. As a direct result of this law, a woman maiden’s name appears on official documents.

This has been the source of many headaches for me including arriving in America. I spent over an hour at passport control as the name on my French passport “did not match” the name of other English documents!