Import Preferred Last Name

Is there a way to import the preferred last name field?

When the preferred last name field was created it was not pre-populated with the last name so all of our records have blank preferred last names.

And the last name field is no longer an option in Profile publish access. Core>Security>Profile access>Profile publish access

Comments

  • @Lisa Wojcik Good catch! I just took a look at the Contact Card-Import/Refresh, General User import type, and there is not a field listed in the template for Preferred Last Name.

    This should definitely be an available import field, especially if Last Name has been deprecated as a field in the Profile Publish Access. Or, if the two are somehow being tied together in these different areas, that should be more clear.

  • @Lisa Wojcik I'm almost certain Last Name was never an option in Profile Publish Access; First Name and Last Name can't be disabled by users or lots of things would break.

  • Jessi Walters
    Jessi Walters Blackbaud Employee
    Seventh Anniversary Kudos 5 Name Dropper Participant

    @David Gillespie you're right - First and Last names couldn't be hidden or the system wouldn't work appropriately. We recently tweaked the way they appear in Profile access to minimize confusion, but Profile Publish Access never affected First or Last name.

    We are slowly rolling out Preferred last name throughout the system:

    • First, we released Profile access control on Preferred last name.
    • Then, we created the field on the Contact card.
    • Next, we'll add it to User name format to display throughout the system.
    • Then, once it's more broadly usable in the system, we'll add it to Imports and lists.

    This field has been implemented to support inclusion and belonging, but since it is not a primary field needed for state or federal reporting or for many integrations, we don't expect to add it to all 92,594 places names appear. (Exaggeration, but it would be impossible to add it to every page.) Instead, we'll save the development investment for innovation in other areas to maximize impact in the system.

  • @Jessi Walters When users go to their Privacy Settings the Preferred Last Name field does not appear because it is blank?

    4c5aea441ad807b5fe78f9c68f60e8b0-huge-im
  • Jessi Walters
    Jessi Walters Blackbaud Employee
    Seventh Anniversary Kudos 5 Name Dropper Participant

    @Lisa Wojcik under Profile publish access, be sure the Parent to Parent settings have Preferred last name selected/enabled. If you enabled it today, then your directory settings will be updated overnight and available for Parents to manage in their settings tomorrow.

    If it's been more than 24 hours, please submit a case to Support so we can investigate.

  • Jessi Walters
    Jessi Walters Blackbaud Employee
    Seventh Anniversary Kudos 5 Name Dropper Participant

    It's there now! In August 2025, Preferred last name was added to the Contact card category, General user import type 😊 Cheers!

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