I grew up with the mentality that the usual order of names is "First name Middle name Last name". The understanding then was that the First name is usually the surname, the middle is usually one's personal name which known to people and also on the birth certificate while the last name is the "other" name one bear. The order later changed to "last, first middle" with the
last and first names separated by a comma, and items are alphabetized by the last name.


Fast forward to present days! Lately, Most official forms i come across are with the order of "First name Last name".

Few weeks back, i went to a company i formally worked with (4years back) as an I.T student at ikeja, Lagos. i had an appointment with my former boss. On entering the reception room, met "sister" yemi the company secretary on her desk and exchanged pleasantries. I told her my reasons for the visit and she gave me visitor's note to fill. She wanted to put me through for some people's ignorance leads to mistake. She said "Please, your first name first and your last name follows". I then wrote down my surname as the first name and my personal name as the last name. With a smile on her face; she said "Take note from now, Gbenga is your name, it should be your first name and your surname is your last name". Wasnt even ready for that argument coz na make my former boss reason me well dey my mind. Got home later to start pondering and wondering over the "name" issue.



Infact! I had to go google but information there states different countries with their style.
In some Western countries, the surname or family name ("last name" is placed after the personal or given name ("first name".


My people! Abeg which one Nigeria adopt? First name as surname or Last name as surname

First name is Surname.... Last name is your own name

your surname is the first, then others follow. but in US, Your name before surname.

fako1:
I grew up with the mentality that the usual order of names is "First name Middle name Last name". The understanding then was that the First name is usually the surname, the middle is usually one's personal name which known to people and also on the birth certificate while the last name is the "other" name one bear. The order later changed to "last, first middle" with the
last and first names separated by a comma, and items are alphabetized by the last name.


Fast forward to present days! Lately, Most official forms i come across are with the order of "First name Last name".

Few weeks back, i went to a company i formally worked with (4years back) as an I.T student at ikeja, Lagos. i had an appointment with my former boss. On entering the reception room, met "sister" yemi the company secretary on her desk and exchanged pleasantries. I told her my reasons for the visit and she gave me visitor's note to fill. She wanted to put me through for some people's ignorance leads to mistake. She said "Please, your first name first and your last name follows". I then wrote down my surname as the first name and my personal name as the last name. With a smile on her face; she said "Take note from now, Gbenga is your name, it should be your first name and your surname is your last name". Wasnt even ready for that argument coz na make my former boss reason me well dey my mind. Got home later to start pondering and wondering over the "name" issue.



Infact! I had to go google but information there states different countries with their style.
In some Western countries, the surname or family name ("last name" is placed after the personal or given name ("first name".


My people! Abeg which one Nigeria adopt? First name as surname or Last name as surname

Surname first, followed by first name and then middle name.
It's like that in most forms by banks, companies etc.

steppin:

Surname first, followed by first name and then middle name.
It's like that in most forms by banks, companies etc.

Have you not come across forms that indicates just "first name last name". Infact some job interviews i have come across comes in that name order. Based on research, the secretary was right abt your last name being the surname bt most countries dont adopt diz style.

Correction sir,
Most applications in Nigeria
Your first name is your personal name while your last name is your surname.

Your first name is your personal name while your Last Name is your Surname. When you're filling forms or on your CV and your surname comes first, it must be separated by a comma.

Bhb

US format, last name is your surname

So for Nigeria a we saying d first name is d surname or d last name

lexxyrule:
US format, last name is your surname

UK format nko

For me is Surname, First Name and Middle Name to avoid confusion. I don't buy into First name and Last Name style.

HELP....wat if one of one's certificates have a middle name, first name, surname format while others have first name, middle name and surname format...can it raise arguments?

ibietela2:


UK format nko

Don't mind dem... in the entire western world.. it's First name (Personal name) then Last name (Surname)...

the idea of Surname first is an Eastern culture.. like in China, Korea etc
for example... Kim Jong-Un
Kim is the surname
Jong-Un is the first name.

in western world..
Barack Obama
Barack is the first name
Obama is the surname

Since Nigeria was colonized by the British.. we simply follow their policy.

C'est compri?

CaptEColeJnr:
Don't mind dem... in the entire western world.. it's First name (Personal name) then Last name (Surname)...

the idea of Surname first is an Eastern culture.. like in China, Korea etc
for example... Kim Jong-Un
Kim is the surname
Jong-Un is the first name.

in western world..
Barack Obama
Barack is the first name
Obama is the surname

Since Nigeria was colonized by the British.. we simply follow their policy.

C'est compri?

So which is the UK policy?

First Name (my birth name) Middle name {my father's name) Surname (my grandfather's name)?

Which comes first when using all three?

ibietela2:


UK format nko

Not sure

lexxyrule:


Not sure

Ok

Your surname is your last name!

Shortyy:
your surname is the first, then others follow. but in US, Your name before surname.

nothing like in usa and in Naija..english na anglish..so if the usa says its ur name..then it is..

piamily:

nothing like in usa and in Naija..english na anglish..so if the usa says its ur name..then it is..

I have two o level sittings.
My surname is "Paul" my first name is "Peter" no middle name.
But in my O level results of different sittings :
2008 result bears "Paul Peter" and
2009 result from same school bears "Peter Paul" and subsequently any other of my certificates obtained bears "Paul Peter"
Is this going to be a form of problem to me in future? If yes how do I go about it?

N/B, like I said earlier my ND, HND, Nysc certificates bears PAUL PETER only my 2009 o level result bears "Peter Paul" and that has not been a problem to me during academic screening and all.

I'm only asking to know if it might be a problem in the case of employment.

Also while filing a CV which of the O levels should I fill since I have two sittings, is it the later(2009) or the former (2008)? The later(2009) is the best but had English D7 but made Credit in the former (2008) result.
Help a brother... Please it's urgent

First name surname