Kyrgyzstan lawmakers propose allowing double surnames for children

Lawmakers in Kyrgyzstan have introduced a bill that would permit parents to register double surnames for their children at birth. Under the current law, children can only receive the surname of one parent, and hyphenated surnames are prohibited. This proposed change to the law on civil status acts aims to allow children to carry a combined surname from both parents, in any order.

The initiative stems from appeals by citizens who have been denied the registration of double surnames for their children. For instance, MP Dastan Bekeshev cited the case of Elena Khan and the Titov family, who were refused permission to register the surname Titov-Khan for their children due to the existing legal ban.

Supporters of the bill argue that allowing double surnames would better represent the interests of both parents, maintain family continuity, and resolve inconsistencies between family law and civil status registration laws. The explanatory note accompanying the bill highlights that triple surnames would remain prohibited.

This is not the first time discussions around children's names have sparked public debate in Kyrgyzstan. In 2023, the Constitutional Court's decision to allow the use of a matronymic instead of a patronymic in exceptional cases for adults led to significant public criticism, prompting the court to later reverse its ruling.