fullname

fullname is the complete personal name that a person uses in formal and legal contexts. It typically includes a given name, middle name(s), and a family name or surname, but the exact components and order vary by culture and legal tradition. In many Western cultures, the common order is given name, middle name(s), and family name. In many East Asian cultures, the family name may precede the given name. Some individuals also have patronymic or matronymic elements, and others may carry multiple surnames through marriage or inheritance. Suffixes such as Jr., Sr., II, or III may appear after the family name to distinguish individuals.

In administrative settings, a fullname is used for identity verification, legal documentation, and record-keeping. Forms often separate fields for given name and family name to accommodate international variations, but a single fullname field may be used for display purposes. Proper handling includes respecting preferred names, supporting diacritics and non-Latin scripts, and accommodating hyphenated or compound surnames.

Data handling considerations include normalization, searching, and sorting by surname, and ensuring accuracy when individuals change names due to marriage, gender transition, or personal choice. Privacy and data minimization principles recommend collecting only the name fields necessary for a given task and enabling aliases or display names without exposing sensitive information.

In software design, designing for international naming conventions reduces errors and improves user experience. Some systems store both a canonical full name and separate name parts.