Azerbaijan’s Cabinet of Ministers confirms “The rules on giving and changing name, surname and patronymic”

The Cabinet told that according to the rules, it is not permitted to give a name, which may damage the interests of the child, does not correspond to the person’s sex or sounds ridiculous. Complaint may be filed administratively and to the court against the decision rejecting to give or change the name. According to the document, patronymic is given to the child basing on the father’s name, or basing on the name of the person registered as father, if the parents are not married. The surname of the child is defined by the parents’ surname. If the surnames of the parents are different, the surname of father or mother is given to the child with the consent of the parents.

The rules also envisage change of surname endings. According to the document, basing on the application of every citizen, who has reached the age of 18, the ending of his/her surname is changed.

The application for changing the surname ending is submitted to the record branch for the place of residence or consulate.

Azerbaijani citizens are permitted to change their names, patronymics and surnames after having reached the age of 18. The changing of the name, patronymic and surname is realized by the record branch or consulate.

Change of surname by husband or wife can not be the reason for the other to change the surname.