Reference: Merge Rules for Name Data Fields

This table illustrates how Workday merges specific fields in the absence or presence of source and target values using particular operations.

These merge rules apply to all person types except employee. When you merge an employee record, you have the option to append data that doesn't match from the source to the target. You also have the option to leave that data on the source.

Field	Source Value?	Target Value?	Operation	Behavior
Legal Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When functionally equivalent, keep the value on the target when the source and target have matching values.
Legal Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent, find the most recent update and keep it on the target. Append any additional names as Additional Names to the target.
Legal Name	Yes	No	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source has a value and the target doesn't, keep the source value on the target.
Legal Name	No	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source doesn't have a value and the target does, keep the target value.
Preferred Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When functionally equivalent, keep the value on the target when the source and target have matching values.
Preferred Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent, find the most recent update and keep it on the target. Append any additional names as Preferred Names to the target.
Preferred Name	Yes	No	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source has a value and the target doesn't, keep the source value on the target.
Preferred Name	No	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source doesn't have a value and the target does, keep the target value.
Additional Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When functionally equivalent, keep the value on the target when the source and target have matching values.
Additional Name	Yes	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent, add additional name from the source to the target.
Additional Name	Yes	No	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source has a value and the target doesn't, append the source values on the target.
Additional Name	No	Yes	Custom Processing	When not functionally equivalent and the source doesn't have a value and the target does, append the target values.