In Ukraine, patronymics are now being registered after the mother, not the father

In Ukraine, cases have emerged of citizens replacing the traditional patronymic with a so-called matronymic — a name derived from the mother's name. One such case was described by lawyer Kateryna Yasko on her Facebook page. She reported that her daughter, upon turning 19, received a new first name, surname, and matronymic in place of her former patronymic.

"Before our eyes, a dear young person is creating themselves step by step — choosing who to be, what to be called, what to love, where to live, what to study, and what to leave behind," wrote Yasko, congratulating her daughter.

The post sparked a discussion about the very concept of a matronymic. One user pointed out that the suffix "-ivna" is traditionally used to form the feminine patronymic. Yasko responded that a patronymic is a name derived from the father, while a matronymic is a name derived from the mother. As an example, she cited the form "Katerynivna," which in this case is derived from the mother's name Kateryna and is used specifically as a matronymic.

The ability to independently change one's patronymic appeared in Ukrainian legislation following amendments to Article 295 of the Civil Code. From the age of 16, a person may change their surname, first name, and patronymic at their own discretion, while from the age of 14, a change is possible subject to the conditions prescribed by law.

As the SPJ reported, the Czech Republic rejected the Istanbul Convention due to gender ideology.

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