Can a baby have ANY surname? (Scotland)

[WonkyDonkey9]

To cut a long story short, my 15 year old sister has been unofficially "fostered" by her friends parents due to a huge family breakdown. This has been since roughly April/May.

My sister has just given birth and does not want to give the baby her surname (which is the same as her parents)

Her friends parents have been heavily encouraging her to give the baby their surname. (Trust me I'm livid)

Short of drip feeding, but can my sister even give the baby their name?

Afaik she can call the baby whatever she likes

Ah ok. That’s worrying :/ she’s being pressured

Yes. She can chose any surname she wishes.

OP - I have read your previous threads regarding your sister and I feel there is a MASSIVE safeguarding issue around her and the family she is lodging with.

Please keep on to SS to investigate and, if there is still a place in a mother and baby unit try and encourage your sister to take it.

Your sister is still a child herself, she is emotionally very vulnerable and it sounds like this family is trying to manipulate her - possibly to the extent of them wanting control of the baby.

It's so hard for you but please keep on reporting this.

Is there a dad involved? One good thing is that if there isn’t then it will be fairly easy for her to change the baby’s name (particularly in the first year) if she changes her mind.

If there is a dad on the birth certificate then it gets harder as dad now has equal parental responsibilities so also has to agree.