# Multiple last names - when does it end?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-last-names-when-does-it-end/532574>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 15, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-last-names-when-does-it-end/532574 "2010-03-15T19:20:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 4

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**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/multiple-last-names-when-does-it-end/532574/61 "2010-03-18T19:45:40Z")

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> [@aceplace57](#):
>
> Some of the foreign names are a major challenge for our data entry people. Make them hyphenated and you have a major headache.

I’m just curious… what do you run into if you use something like:

```auto

/[A-Z a-z -]+.[A-Z a-z -]?.?[A-Z a-z -]+/

```

I’m trying to learn how to use regular expressions. Tricky little bastards… so knowledge is power!

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