GermanyWhat marital name options are available?
In Germany, married couples can choose a shared marital name (Ehename) — either one spouse’s birth name, current family name, or a hyphenated double name — or keep their original names if no choice is made.
What the Law Says
German law gives married couples clear, flexible options for choosing a shared family name — or opting out entirely. These rules are set out in the German Civil Code (BGB) and apply equally to all couples, regardless of gender.
Under BGB § 1355(1), spouses may choose a common marital name (Ehename). If they do, both must use that name. If they make no choice, each keeps the name they used at the time of marriage.
Section 1355(2) lists three permissible choices for the marital name: (1) the birth name of either spouse; (2) the current family name of either spouse; or (3) a double name formed from one name of each spouse — joined by a hyphen unless the couple explicitly opts out of the hyphen.
Section 1355(3) clarifies how compound names (e.g., names with multiple parts) may be used: only one part of a multi-part name may be selected for the marital name — whether as a standalone name or in a double name.
Section 1355(4) states that the marital name should ideally be declared at the time of marriage. If chosen later, the declaration must be publicly notarized (öffentlich beglaubigt).
Section 1355(5) protects post-divorce naming rights: divorced or widowed individuals retain the marital name by default but may formally revert to their birth name, their pre-marital name, or add a ‘companion name’ (Begleitname) under § 1355a.
Statutory TextDie Ehegatten können einen gemeinsamen Familiennamen (Ehenamen) bestimmen. Die Ehegatten führen den von ihnen bestimmten Ehenamen. Bestimmen die Ehegatten keinen Ehenamen, so führen sie ihre zur Zeit der Eheschließung geführten Namen auch nach der Eheschließung.
— BGB § 1355(1) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextZum Ehenamen können die Ehegatten durch Erklärung gegenüber dem Standesamt bestimmen: den Geburtsnamen (Absatz 6) eines Ehegatten, den zur Zeit der Erklärung geführten Familiennamen eines Ehegatten oder einen aus den Namen (Nummer 1 oder 2) beider Ehegatten gebildeten Doppelnamen.
— BGB § 1355(2) — German Civil Code
Statutory TextDer verwitwete oder geschiedene Ehegatte behält den Ehenamen. Er kann durch Erklärung gegenüber dem Standesamt, die öffentlich beglaubigt werden muss, seinen Geburtsnamen (Absatz 6) wieder annehmen, den Namen wieder annehmen, den er bis zur Bestimmung des Ehenamens geführt hat, oder dem Ehenamen einen Begleitnamen (§ 1355a) voranstellen oder anfügen;
— BGB § 1355(5) — German Civil Code
What to Do
Decide together before or during the marriage ceremony whether to adopt a shared name — and which one.
If choosing a double name, agree whether to use a hyphen (default) or omit it (must be stated explicitly).
If deciding after marriage, visit a notary public to have your joint declaration officially certified.
After divorce or widowhood, file a notarized declaration with the local registry office (Standesamt) to reclaim your birth name or add a companion name.
Sources
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Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: June 2026.