How do you change a name that includes multiple words or compound surnames in California?

In California, the court system allows you to change your name to virtually any legal form you choose, including multi-word names, compound surnames, or hyphenated names. When completing your Petition for Change of Name, you’ll list your current full legal name and the exact new version you want—whether that means adding a middle name, creating a double last name, or hyphenating your surname. The Superior Court judge will review your request to ensure it’s not misleading, fraudulent, or intended to avoid debts or legal obligations, but the law otherwise gives wide latitude to adopt compound or multiple-word names. For example, many families combine two surnames into a hyphenated or unhyphenated double last name, while others restore or honor cultural naming traditions by adding second or third given names.

The key to success is consistency and accuracy. Your new name must be written the same way on all forms—down to the spelling, punctuation, and spacing. If you want a compound surname, you should be clear about whether it will be hyphenated (e.g., “Smith-Jones”) or presented as two words without a hyphen (e.g., “Smith Jones”). After approval, the court order you receive is what agencies like the Social Security Administration, DMV, and Passport Office will use when updating your ID and records. Any variation between what the court approves and how you submit it to agencies can cause delays, so it’s important to be precise when you file.

EZ Name Change has extensive experience handling these kinds of petitions, including more complex name formats with multiple words or compound surnames. Our full-service process ensures that your forms are prepared correctly, filed in the right court, and supported with the required publication, so the name you request is the name that appears on your final court order. If you’d like a step-by-step overview of how the California name change process works, including examples of the petition forms, see our How to Change Your Name in California Guide.