Here are guidelines to help you enter names correctly in Family Tree.
Select the correct language template
When you add or edit a name in Family Tree, you can change the language template. The language template allows you to enter the name in the correct order with the correct scripts (or character sets).
Family Tree displays a data problem called "Problem with Name Language" when the script used to enter person's name does not match the selected language template, if a name field contains the wrong script, or if a name field contains multiple scripts.
Enter the correct version of the name in the Vitals section
In the Vitals section, enter the birth name or complete legal name.
- Capitalization—Use normal capitalization.
- Maiden and married names—If a woman changed her last name after marriage, use her maiden name.
- Legal name changes—If a person legally changed his or her name, other than through marriage, enter the newer legal name.
- Most commonly used name—If the person did not use his or her legal name in life, enter the commonly used name in the Vitals section. Enter the legal name in the Other Information section.
Put each part of the name in the correct field
- Title—Use Title for words like “Count” or “Mister.” You can leave the title field blank.
- First Names—Enter the first and middle names. Put nicknames in the “Other Information” section.
- Last Names—Enter the family name or surname. If a woman changed her surname after marriage, enter her maiden name. If the person has no last name, leave the Last Name field blank.
- Suffix—Enter words like “Jr.” or “Sr.,” or a Roman numeral. For example, John Smith III. You can leave the field blank.
Put nicknames and other variations in the Other Information section
Add other names a person used in the “Other Information” section. Here are examples:
- Nicknames
- Names used before or after a move to a new country
- Names used to avoid identification
- Name changes from adoption, divorce, or some other legal actions
- Name variants based on naming customs, such as French "dit" names
- Married names of women
- Spelling variations
Avoid invalid words and characters
You cannot save a name with an invalid character in any of the name fields. A warning message describes the problem. If the message displays in red, you must remove the invalid characters.
- These characters are not permitted: \ @ # $ % ^ & * _ + = | ~ ? < > [ ] { } ( ) ; : 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.
- Avoid extra spaces.
- You can use hyphens and apostrophes that are part of the name.
- Avoid names with initials only.
- Avoid words that are not names. Examples include not named, unnamed, Mister, Wife, twin, or son.
- Enter generation numbers, such as III, in the suffix field.
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