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The only feasible way to handle a name given that, at least what I can think of, is a single unbounded textbox that's also optional.

Actually, I guess it really must be a foreign key M{0,}:N as a many-to-many to allow for having multiple names.



If you require users to divulge their real name (i.e. financial institutions), it's probably a better idea to have two fields:

- Your legal name

- What you'd like us to call you


> Your legal name

The UK for one doesn't have the concept of a legal name. As an adult you can call yourself anything you like, as often as you like.

You can complete a deed poll document to change your name on official documents, but it doesn't 'make legal' your new name, it just officially states that your new name supercedes your old name.

https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview

“I [old name] of [your address] have given up my name [old name] and have adopted for all purposes the name [new name].

"If the individual changing their name so wishes, evidence of a change of name (forename and/or surname) may be provided by a procedure known as deed poll."


Plus one for sorting. You often want to sort by last name, but that is different than the other two text strings.


One URL* that's a persistent URL to the identity broker of the person†.

* Ok, URI, or IRI, or whatever we're technically calling them nowadays.

† Or other named being, robot, entity …




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