Canadian name Canadian name Canadian naming conventions vary based on whether one is Aboriginal Canadian, English Canadian or French Canadian. In English Canada, names follow much the same convention as they do in the United States and United Kingdom. Usually the "first name" (as described in e.g. birth certificates) is what a child goes by, although a middle name (if any) may be preferred—both also known as "given names." The "last name" is usually taken from a child's parents, which may be from either or both (joined by hyphenation). Outside Quebec (with distinct civil law system), either spouse has the right to
Canadian name Chief-Moon (Blood), or Whiteknife (Cree). For others, a name in their ancestral language is rendered in English or French spelling such as Tootoosis (Plains Cree), Newashish (Atikamekw), or Yahgulanaas (Haida). Some people have a legal or baptismal name in English or French and separate name in their ancestral language, for example Oronhyatekha (Mohawk) who was also called Peter Martin. For an overview of common Inuit names in Canada see List of Canadian Inuit. Courtesy titles may be used on official documents in Canada, and are frequently used in formal situations such as business correspondence or meetings. As in other English-speaking