Can a child's name be changed to a hyphenated combination of both parents' surnames if they disagree?

A hyphenated combination of both parents' surnames is a common outcome that parents propose or that a court orders precisely because it resolves a disagreement — but it isn't automatic just because one parent suggests it, if the other parent still objects to any change at all. Where parents can't agree, either on a straightforward change or on a hyphenated compromise, the same rules apply as to any other disputed name change: a court application is generally needed, and a judge decides the outcome using the best-interests-of-the-child test rather than simply imposing whichever option seems like a middle ground.

In practice, a hyphenated name is often the result a court lands on precisely because it preserves the child's connection to both parents, which speaks directly to the best-interests factors courts already weigh — but a court isn't limited to that option and could instead maintain the existing name or approve a different change depending on the evidence. Parents proposing a hyphenated name as a compromise should still expect to need consent or a court order if that consent isn't given.