Kyrgyzstan considers allowing children to take both parents’ surnames

Parents in Kyrgyzstan could soon be allowed to give their children a double surname under a bill submitted to the Jogorku Kenesh.

The proposal would amend the current Law on Civil Status Acts, which expressly prohibits giving a child a double surname. If both parents agree, their surnames could be combined with a hyphen in either order. Triple surnames would remain prohibited.

The initiative’s authors said citizens had repeatedly asked for the change. Couples with different surnames had sought permission to give their children a surname made up of both parents’ names, but current rules had led to refusals. The explanatory note said such requests were not isolated cases.

The bill would not introduce “matronymics” or alter existing rules for patronymics. Kyrgyz naming forms using “uulu,” “kyzy” and “tegin” would remain available, as would the option to list ancestors up to the seventh generation.

A double surname would not be mandatory. It could be assigned only with the agreement of both parents. If they did not agree, the current rules would apply. The proposed changes would also not require people to reissue documents already issued and would not cover births that have already been registered. The bill underwent public discussion beginning on June 17, 2026, after which its authors clarified that it was unrelated to introducing matronymics.