Spanish Naming Customs

Spanish naming customs are those practiced in Spain. They are similar to those in other Spanish-speaking countries. In Spain, a person's name consists of a given name (simple or composite) followed by two family names (surnames). The first surname was traditionally the father's first surname, and the second the mother's first surname. In Spain this order may now be reversed, according to a new gender equality law.

In most situations, the practice is to use one given name and the first surname only, the full name being used in legal, formal, and documentary matters. For differences in Hispanic American usages, see Hispanic American naming customs.

Read more about Spanish Naming Customs:  Naming System in Spain, Denotations, Spain's Other Languages

Famous quotes containing the words spanish, naming and/or customs:

    It’s like a jumble of huts in a jungle somewhere. I don’t understand how you can live there. It’s really, completely dead. Walk along the street, there’s nothing moving. I’ve lived in small Spanish fishing villages which were literally sunny all day long everyday of the week, but they weren’t as boring as Los Angeles.
    Truman Capote (1924–1984)

    Husband,
    who am I to reject the naming of foods
    in a time of famine?
    Anne Sexton (1928–1974)

    The correct rate of speed in innovating changes in long-standing social customs has not yet been determined by even the most expert of the experts. Personally I am beginning to think there is more danger in lagging than in speeding up cultural change to keep pace with mechanical change.
    Mary Barnett Gilson (1877–?)