Who has the final say in naming a child?

If the mother wants to give the baby her last name, but the father objects, can she do it anyway? Does the father's opinion have any influence on it legally?





P.S. I'm not in this situation, but I've wondered about it before especially with all the baby naming questions on here.

Who has the final say in naming a child?
Yes, the mother has the ability to give the baby her last name regardless of what the father says...
Reply:In Fl the hospital fills out what the Mother wants on the birth certificate and she signs it - whether or not the Father signs it is up to the Mother.
Reply:i dont know the laws in other countries, i live in the uik and it is the mothers decision! when you go to get the birth certificate the mother HAS to be present the father does not, the father cannot get the birth certificate on his own unless there are certain circumstances!
Reply:well if your not married...in my state..IL...its the mother's say regardless of what the father wants
Reply:i wanted to keep my last name cause im infatuated with it but my fiancee doesnt want to... so i have to give our baby his last name.





i know i know im selfish.


i have always been selfish. lol.
Reply:if ur not married u can do so but if ur married da father has a right do object..
Reply:It should be both parents but in my case..I'm the mom...I had the final say...If there was an issue of naming the child regarding last name..then you can simple leave the father off the birth certificate..it can always be added on later. Since the mother is the patient, they will go with the mother's Choice on the birth certificate.
Reply:I think it's just whoever fills out the birth certificate. I don't know if the dad can force the mom to give the baby his name. If the parents aren't together then I think it would be part of the custody agreement and the judge would decide.
Reply:I'm assuming that the parents are not married. If that's the case, then the mother of the child has the final say.
Reply:I believe if the father signs the birth certificate, than the child will get his last name. My sister left the fathers name blank so that her daughter could have her last name, but that would also require a blood test to get child support and stuff like that.
Reply:It Depends on the State and Law





The Final Say is the Judges say..A mother can name the child, But i am pretty sure that in most states the father has that right. It is the law...Nothing personal!!!
Reply:the mother. 9 months of pregnancy! it's only fair!
Reply:The mother decides - no matter where in the U.S. you are. Your baby, your choice.
Reply:Well, it's always the mother, that her God given right to name the kid, since she carried it to term througn thin and thick, and labor pains. Unless you're Jewish, then it's the Father's duty, or if you're Muslim, the women don't count as people, and then you just obey your master, the husband.... But if you live in the USA, it's a free country, so if the Father doesn't agree with you, too bad! He can shove it, so to speak... hahaha


God bless America!
Reply:In Ontario, Canada: If both parents can not agree on a last name then the infant is given a hyphenated last name, with the names in alphabetical order. (ie Jones-Smith not Smith-Jones)
Reply:The one who carried the baby and gave birth.
Reply:In our state, the baby gets the mothers last name, unless the mother agrees to it being something else, like the fathers last name.