# How to display given names and surname variants in RM 11 **URL:** \ **Category:** RootsMagic\ **Tags:** question, rootsmagic\ **Created:** [October 11, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-display-given-names-and-surname-variants-in-rm-11/16357 "2026-10-11T20:25:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CliveLawford](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/clivelawford/32/7371_2.png) [@CliveLawford](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/CliveLawford)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 8:25pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-display-given-names-and-surname-variants-in-rm-11/16357/1 "2026-10-11T20:25:23Z")
During my research there are many occasions when an ancestor’s given name/s and surname would vary multiple times during their lives. (surprisingly not as often as you would expect, when I think about how often I must spell my name for people and when many of my distant ancestors could not write!) My question is how do I display all these variants within RM 11? Regards, Clive. ---
**Author:** ![rzamor1](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/rzamor1/32/8_2.png) [@rzamor1](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/rzamor1)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-display-given-names-and-surname-variants-in-rm-11/16357/2 "2026-10-11T20:59:54Z")
I add spelling variations and name changes as alternate name facts. ---
**Author:** ![MadDog](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/community.rootsmagic.com/maddog/32/313_2.png) [@MadDog](https://community.rootsmagic.com/u/MadDog)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.rootsmagic.com/t/how-to-display-given-names-and-surname-variants-in-rm-11/16357/3 "2026-10-11T22:13:21Z")
Use the Alternate Name with the date 🙂