People must understand that the arrangement of names is standard across the globe. When you’re asked to mention or write your name, call/write your first name first before any other names and the name that comes last is presumed to be your last name/surname. For example, if you’re James and your surname is John, in writing your name, write James John not the other way round.

All over the globe, the standard practice is:

First name
Middle name(s) if any
Surname or Last Name

However, if you write your surname first, always put comma so that readers can identify it as such. For example, if you write *John, James* a reader will know that John is your surname and James is your first name.

Another acceptable practice is — you write your surname in caps and keep the first name in lower keys. For instance, *JOHN James* will communicate to every reader that your surname is John and your first name is James.

Also, if you want to introduce yourself with your titles, mention the first name first in the sequence. For example; I am
*Prof/Dr./Rev./Mr. James John*


It tells a reader that James is your first name while John is your last. In instances where you mention your surname first after your title, don’t add your first name. For example, “Hello, I am Mr. John” don’t add your first name James.

People are losing juicy jobs due to these minor mistakes they make at job interviews. Stop mentioning your surname before your first name. Surnames always come last that’s why in some jurisdictions, they specifically call it your *Last Name*.