What is motherhood and how to give it to a child

What is maternity?

Mattness, or matronym, is part of a person's name. It is given by analogy with the patronymic, but formed on behalf of the mother, for example, Maryevich, Anastasyevna, Yelenovich.

Where did it come from?

It may seem that the idea of ​​giving matronyms was born quite recently and was invented feminists and single mothers. But this is not at all the case. In many cultures, people were named after their mother in the past and continue to do so today. Matronyms are used in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. They are sometimes found in Scandinavian countries. In Spain, a person from birth wearsAll you wanted to know and never dared to ask about Spanish family names a double surname composed of a paternal and a maternal name. And even in Russia there were precedents when people were called by the name of their mother. For example, Prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich Osmomysl had an illegitimate son, who was nicknamed Oleg Nastasich.

Why are matronyms needed?

They perform the same functions as middle names:

• They indicate the origin of a person and additionally identify him.
• Emphasize the contribution of the parent (in this case, the mother) to the birth and child education.
• Allow to treat a person with respect if it is required by the environment or subordination.

Supporters of matronyms believe that since a mother gives birth to a child and invests time and effort in raising him, it would be fair to reflect this in his name. After all, most people get their surname from their father, and if so, some element must be from the mother, for example, a matronym. This becomes especially true if a woman is raising a child alone, and this is how it happensIn Russia, single mothers account for a third of families with children in a third of Russian families.

There is also more lyrical reasoning. For example, the philosopher Mikhail Epstein is sureHow about your mother?: if people wore materia, it would soften morals and reflect the unity of male and female in any person.

But there are also opponents of this idea?

Of course. There is a heated debate over the use of matronyms. Here are the main reasonsMatrix instead of patronymic: a woman's whim or an adequate alternative? dissenting:

• This is contrary to Russian traditions and mentality: we have a patriarchal culture, people have always been named after their fathers, which means that it should be so.
• This offends men, belittles their role in raising a child and leads to matriarchy.
• The child will tease at school. Besides, wickedness is like a stigma. It shows that the mother was promiscuous in relationships and does not know from whom she gave birth.
• Motherhood is just as unfair as middle name. You can take double sailor patronymics, as didUralets Sergey Vero-Viktorovich got a match Uralets Sergei Mukhlynin, who assigned his mother's name to his patronymic and became Vero-Viktorovich. Or even abandon both matronyms and patronyms as something outdated and use, for example, double names or surnames.

What does the law say?

The situation with the matches is not spelled out in the legislation. Article 58 of the Family Code saysRF IC, article 58. The child's right to a name, patronymic and surnamethat the child is entitled to name, surname and patronymic, and "the patronymic is assigned by the name of the father, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation or is not based on national custom."

These formulations can be interpreted in two ways: there seems to be no direct prohibition, but there is no permission either. In practice, registry office employees refuse those who came to give a child or themselves a matronym, because the law only speaks of a patronymic, and it must be formed from a male name. But there is a loophole. Most female names have male counterparts, even non-obvious ones: Helen, Mariy, Julius, Nataliy, Oles and so on. If it is possible to find a male name identical to the mother's name, in the registry office such a pseudo-patronymic can be approvedMaryevna, Almirovna, Raisovna: women who replaced the middle name with the mother name.

I want to give maternity to my child. How to do it?

If we are talking about an infant who does not yet have a birth certificate, you need to submit an application in person at the registry office or through portal "Gosuslugi". In the appeal, you must indicate what surname, first name and patronymic (motherhood) you want to give the child.

If the mother's name easily turns into masculine (Alexandra, Eugene, Valentina), problems should not arise. In other cases, you may have to struggle: registry office employees insist on patronymics and, even if the biological father of the child refused him, they suggest that the mother use the name of the grandfather or another relative. There have not yet been precedents when a newborn was still able to be given a matronym formed from an exclusively female name, for example, Tatyana, Irina, Pelageya.

It will not work to change the patronymic of a child who already has a birth certificateHow to change the last name, first name or patronymic of a child until his 14th birthday. Then he can do it himself, if he is recognized as capable, or with the permission of his parents (legal representatives).

But what if I want to change my patronymic to a maternity name?

An adult can change the middle name by contacting in the registry office. But here the same restrictions apply as in the case of a newborn, so it is better to look in advance for male counterparts for the mother's name in order to refer to them in case of refusal.

How do you feel about matronyms? Are you ready to give your child a maternal part of the name? Share in the comments.