Person Name Data Standard
Last updated on September 10, 2026The Person Name Data Standard provides technical specifications on how to input, store and display people's name accurately and respectfully while considering the technology required for effective information exchange and usage.
On this page
- About the Person Name Data Standard
- Why this Standard is important
- Who should use this standard
- Resources
- Contact us
About the Person Name Data Standard
The Person Name Data Standard (PDF, 400 KB) provides technical specifications on how to input, store, and display people's names accurately and respectfully while considering the technology required for effective information exchange and usage.
The standard applies to all person names used in B.C. government systems. While it applies to all names, it is particularly important for supporting Indigenous language names in government systems and advancing Action 3.15 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan.
Why this standard is important
A person's name is fundamental to their identity. Many computer systems were built on assumptions about the structure, length, and character sets used in names. Government systems need to shift to support more diverse naming practices.
The successful exchange of name data across systems is essential to the delivery of connected services. Implementation of the Person Name Data Standard will help support successful information exchange and seamless services across organizational boundaries.
By adopting the standard, we will:
- Enable people in B.C. to see their names represented accurately and respectfully
- Improve consistency in how person name data is collected, stored, represented, formatted, transmitted, and described
- Support data flow and information exchange between systems
- Help deliver connected services across organizational boundaries
Who should use this standard
The Person Name Data Standard should be used by teams responsible for designing, developing, maintaining, modernizing or integrating systems that collect, store, exchange, process, or display person name information. The standard supports consistent implementation across systems and services and should be considered during new development, modernization initiatives, and system integrations.
Resources
Developer Hub
The B.C. government’s DevHub provides access to common technical documentation, code samples, test data, APIs, and community-driven knowledge. These resources complement and expand on the guidance in the Indigenous Languages Technology Standard (ILTS). Visit the Dev Hub.
Indigenous Languages Technology Standard
Including Indigenous Languages in Government Records, Systems and Services
Contact us
Submit feedback, request more information, or get help through the Data Systems and Services request system