Full name vs. first/last name - to split or not to split?

Some readers have complained that my posts are getting too long.

Well, you’ll be happy to know that I black-listed all of them (they won’t bother us again), but for the sake of making a point, this post will be a short one:

Sign-up forms...
Conversion rates...
You want to collect the user’s name...

Should you go with a single “full name” field or split it to "first name" and "last name"?
My answer is: split it (see? told you it will be short).

The answer is: to split. 

Here's why:

Why you should use a single name field: 

For the sake of the sport, here are the reasons to use a single "full name" field:

1. Better user experience - things go faster when using a single field.
   More fields = more friction (unless, of course, you want to create some friction on purpose). 
2. Prevent confusion - having one name field eliminates confusion in some places (and cultures) where the name is handled a bit differently (i.e in Japan, Korea, and Romania the family name is placed before the first name). 
3. Multi-cultural support - It's easier to handle long names such as Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, that don't fit the common structure. 
4. Easier to support titles (i.e / Mr. Dr. etc.).
5. No need to align with location-specific terminology (i.e. first/last name vs. given/family name). 
6. Many users (mainly young ones) are not thrilled to provide their full name, age, or gender.
   A single name field feels less "demanding" and encourages entering partial names or nicknames. 

To conclude, using a single "full name" field can solve a few cultural challenges and improve the user experience. That's why designers usually lean towards this alternative. 

Why you should split the name to first and last name:

1. Personalized communication -  whether you're using push notifications, emails, or in-app messages, using the first name makes the message more personal and effective.
   "Hey John" seems casual and personal. "Hi John Connor" sounds like the terminator.
   Marketing-wise. this one is a killer reason to go with separate fields because trying to automatically get the first name out of a full name is a recipe for embarrassment.  
2. Business needs - if your product operates in (or needs to integrate with) industries with strong identification requirements (i.e. medical, government, financial, insurance, legal) - you'll need to have the names stored separately. 
3. Technical needs - if you need to use some APIs that require first and last name - you will need to have this information available accordingly. 
4. Functionality - storing the name in separate fields will allow better filters, search, and sort capabilities in the product. That might become critical. 
5. Usability - it's true that one field is faster than two, but since most web browsers support auto-fill, the "extra effort" is not significant. 

Before I move on to the conclusion phase, check out my extra long guide for writing and designing microcopy in products or my exhausting list of cognitive biases you must know to design better converting products...

Conclusion

So here's my subjective conclusion, which means it's 100% bulletproof and the absolute correct answer: 

Start with 2 fields.
There are many reasons to split the name: business needs, technical needs, functional benefits, and of course - marketing needs. I believe those reasons are more important than user experience, although I usually go with UX.

Of course, it's always a matter of context. So if none of the above makes sense for your specific product, and usability is key - then maybe this approach just isn't for you.

Either way, remember that it's easier to combine 2 names into one than to split them apart, so if you're not sure what's the right decision yet - start with the safer option and split the name to first + last.

Before you leave, check out a few more long ones:

• Visually distorted - when your perfect design looks all wrong
• Is 'The Fold' still a thing in today's skimming and scrolling culture?  

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