New name right in Hesse: high demand since entry into force!

New name right in Hesse: high demand since entry into force!

On May 1, 2025, a comprehensive reform of the German marriage and birth name law and international name law came into force in Hesse. According to hessenschau.de , these reforms have led to a significant increase in freedom of choice for changes in names. The Hessian registrar Frank Mürken reported on an increase in inquiries, although almost 20 inquiries were received in Kassel on the first day after entry into force - a number that would normally need two months to be achieved.

The new name rights allow spouses to lead a common double name, optionally with or without a hyphen. However, double names may not consist of more than two parts and no name chains are permitted. An example could be the couple Lisa Becker and Lukas Schmidt, who can choose the double name Becker-Schmidt. Children who are born from this marriage automatically receive the marriage name. But a merger naming, such as the combination of two surnames to a new one, such as Schulz and Müller to Schüller, is not possible.

international aspects and rules for binational families

The reform also brings new options for binational families. The previous laws apply to marriages and births that took place before the new regulations came into force. From May 1, 2025, however, international aspects can also be taken into account. The name is now determined according to the law of the country of the habitual stay. For example, Germans abroad can vote for German naming rights through a statement of legal eligibility. An example of this is the couple Lisa Becker and Marek Kowalski in Poland, who can choose the double name Becker-Kowalska without submitting a prior explanation.

For German children born abroad, their birth name is determined according to the law of the respective country. The name listed in the foreign birth certificate is usually also valid in Germany. In addition, parents can determine the child's birth names by a choice of law according to German regulations. This also applies to more complex cases that require a certified explanation in the responsible German foreign representation.

practical effects of the reform

The new freedom of choice not only has legal, but also practical effects. Changes in the right to name can result in the renewal of identity cards, passports and driver's license, which means additional administrative effort. Frank would have told that these innovations have made the right to name more liberal, but also more complex.

In summary, it can be said that the reform of German name law brings far -reaching new regulations for both German and binational families. In view of the increasing inquiries, interest in the new regulations among the population already seems to be significant, which indicates a change in social interaction by name. Further information on these regulations and your individual effects are available on the website of the Federal Foreign Office, which provides detailed information on the new legislation and its application here .