What do you do if you have only one name?

A mononymous person is an individual who is known and addressed by a single name, or mononym. In some cases, that name has been selected by the individual, who may have originally been given a polynym (“multiple name”).

Can you only have a last name?

You can add or remove names, and you can change the spelling of names. There is no law preventing you from being known by a single name, or mononym — that is, a surname only, with no forenames — and HM Passport Office should accept such a name, although they may be more sceptical of your application.

How do some people not have last names?

In some cultures, children get only one name — it’s neither a first, a last, nor a surname. It’s just their name. In other cultures, your “surname” is a kind of genealogical tag, with a patronymic and sometimes a chain of patronymics naming father, grandfather and maybe great grandfather.

Why is your name important to you?

A person’s name is the greatest connection to their own identity and individuality. Some might say it is the most important word in the world to that person. When someone remembers our name after meeting us, we feel respected and more important. It makes a positive and lasting impression on us.

How important is a name to a person identity?

Our names are an incredibly important part of our identity. They carry deep personal, cultural, familial, and historical connections. They also give us a sense of who we are, the communities in which we belong, and our place in the world.

What do you call someone with the same name as you?

People (or things) with the same name are homonymous. The term applies to people who have the same name, as well as books, films, songs with the same title, etc.

How do you deal with people with only one name?

If you are in fact someone with only one name, or want to be one, I suggest joining the mononymy support/discussion group. Plenty of practical advice available there from mononymous people all over the world. (Polynymous people may not join, but I will relay questions from designers/researchers if needed.)

Does everyone have a surname?

One should not assume that everyone has a surname! In my line of work, I have many clients (and not necessarily persons from non-European cultures) who do not have one, for historical reasons, or because of the way their birth certificates were issued.

Do you have to have two last names in the US?

NO. Not unless you are a celebrity (informally). But in legal documents, you must have 2 names. There was a funny story years ago about a Korean-American named “Steve O” as he wrote it. He had trouble in the US doing this.

What are some examples of people with no last names?

One well known example of a person who had no surname, and went through the administrative procedure, because of the bafflement of international contacts, is Dr Abdullah Abdullah, the Prime Minister of Afghanistan. He simply doubled his given name.