The last name is their mother's last name, as recorded on their birth certificate.
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
The Joke-Master
1) "Relatives".
EDIT: Nevermind. The drunk gal's explanation is more sensible than mine.
edited 9th Feb '11 5:35:22 PM by Wanderhome
NOT THE BEES
^^ And I'd imagine if that's not available for whatever reason they make one up or use a temporary default until adopted.
edited 9th Feb '11 5:35:37 PM by Pykrete
The Odd Lad
What if they don't know who the mother was? It's possible the birth could have gone unrecorded for various reasons.
Life's Gonna Suck When You Grow Up... But Is It That Great Now?... Also I'm Skylark2 now.
If a baby is just abandoned, and picked up by the orphanage, then either someone on staff or a judge decides the name.
"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian
I'm not sure if that still happens nowadays... I mean, you'll have the occasional 'Baby Doe' but their identity is generally readily discovered.
If they're adopted promptly, they'd probably get their adoptive parents' last name.
If I'm asking for advice on a story idea, don't tell me it can't be done.
Well I know that it used to be if a Catholic priest found you, they'd name you after the day of the year - hence Quasimodo.
If they have no known reletives?
Life's Gonna Suck When You Grow Up... But Is It That Great Now?... Also I'm Skylark2 now.