Patronymic, surname and transliteration: how to register your baby in Argentina so documents match

In short

An Argentine birth record holds only given names (up to three) and a surname; there is no patronymic field. Russian documents for a child born abroad are based on a translation of that certificate. So whatever you enter in Argentina becomes the "source" for every country. Settle the patronymic, the surname form and the Latin spelling before the birth is registered. Afterwards, the Argentine record can only be changed through the courts.

How names work in Argentina

• Given names (prenombres) are chosen by the parents, up to three. The registrar can refuse an "extravagant" name, and the law doesn't allow surnames to be used as given names. If a patronymic sounds like a common surname (Petrovich, Ivanovich), the registrar may question it.
• Surname. A child of married parents takes the first surname of one spouse, and the other's surname can be added if you wish. If the parents don't agree, the Registro Civil decides by lot. At registration, the parent confirms the surname agreement.
• Later changes go through the courts only, on "just cause", with a notice published monthly for two months. Obvious registrar errors can sometimes be fixed administratively, but a change of heart by the parents doesn't count as one.

What happens in Russian documents

A Russian civil registry won't issue a second birth certificate to a child who already has an Argentine one. In Russia, the Argentine partida is used, with an apostille and a notarized or consular translation, and the citizenship mark is placed on that translation. From there, the data flows into the passport, the SNILS and the health insurance policy.

• A translator can't add what isn't in the original. If the partida has no patronymic, as a rule the Russian documents won't have one either.
• If the patronymic is entered as a second given name, the translation will show it in the "name" field, for example "Иван Петрович". Whether it is then treated as two given names or as name plus patronymic depends on the practice of the particular consulate or Interior Ministry office. Check this before registration.
• The internal passport at 14 is issued from the same data. A patronymic can be added in Russia later through a name change at the civil registry. But then the child has different full names in the two countries, which you'll have to explain with the name-change certificate.

Options and their consequences

There's no universally right choice. Families planning to live in Russia often pick the second option. Those staying in Argentina often pick the first: a short name that looks the same in both passports.

A girl's surname and double surnames

• Feminine form. In Argentina the surname passes on exactly as the parent's is written. If the father is Petrov, a daughter will most likely be registered as Petrov, not Petrova, and the Russian translation may then give a girl the masculine "Петров". If the mother's surname is already in the feminine form, some families give their daughter the mother's surname. Discuss it in advance.
• A double surname (Petrov Ivanova) is normal in Argentina. In Russian documents it will be written with a hyphen or a space, and you'll need to repeat it the same way everywhere.
• The mother's maiden name. If her passport shows one surname and the marriage certificate another, bring documents linking the two to the registry and the consulate.

Transliteration: one spelling everywhere

The Registro Civil writes the name in Latin letters exactly as you dictate it, through a sworn translator. That spelling stays in the DNI and the Argentine passport for good.

• Surname: write it exactly as in the passport of the parent it comes from, down to the letter: Kuznetsov, not Kusnetsov.
• Given name: choose it with the Russian passport in mind. By default, its Latin spelling follows the ICAO standard: Юлия becomes IULIIA, Алексей becomes ALEKSEI, Ксения becomes KSENIIA. If you register Yulia in Argentina and the Russian passport says IULIIA, that's two different spellings. You can usually ask for the Latin spelling to follow an earlier foreign document; confirm when you apply.
• Spanish pronunciation: J sounds like "kh", LL and Y like "zh" or "sh", and H is silent. It affects only how people say the name, not the documents, but keep it in mind when choosing a name.
• Air tickets are booked in the spelling of the passport the child travels on. The fewer mismatches, the fewer questions at the airport.

Kazakhstan and other countries

In Kazakhstan a patronymic is optional: it can be left out or written in the national form (‑uly, ‑kyzy). Kazakh documents follow their own Latin spelling rules. Kazakhstan also doesn't recognize dual citizenship for its nationals, so sort out citizenship first and the name form second: see Giving birth in Argentina for families from Kazakhstan. The same logic applies to Belarus, Armenia and Uzbekistan: the Argentine record is the source.

Checklist before registering the birth

1. Decide: no patronymic, patronymic as a second name, or a second "real" given name.
2. Choose the surname and its form (especially for a girl), and make sure both parents agree.
3. Compare the Latin spelling of the surname in both parents' passports.
4. Write the baby's name in Latin letters as it will appear in your country's future passport.
5. Print that spelling and give it to the sworn translator before registration (see Sworn translation of documents in Argentina).
6. At registration, check the draft record before you sign.

If it's already been registered wrong

The Registro Civil can fix an obvious registrar error (a typo that your documents show) on request. Changing a given name or surname by choice is possible in Argentina only through the courts. In Russia you can change the full name at the civil registry, but the mismatch with the Argentine documents remains. Before changing anything, check how it affects Russian citizenship and the child's SNILS. The full document chain is in Your baby's documents after birth.

How we help

With our Child name review service, before the birth we check the parents' documents, propose spellings of the name and surname for Argentina and your country, and flag the risks of the option you choose. That way, at registration you sign a record you're sure of.