diff --git a/resources/i18n/en.json5 b/resources/i18n/en.json5
index 75617b8bcf..e59a8f38c1 100644
--- a/resources/i18n/en.json5
+++ b/resources/i18n/en.json5
@@ -786,6 +786,9 @@
   "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.selection-tab.title.Journal": "Selected Journals",
   "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.selection-tab.title.Journal Volume": "Selected Journal Volume",
   "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.selection-tab.title.Journal Issue": "Selected Issue",
+  "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.content": "Would you like to save \"{{ value }}\" as a name variant for this person so you and others can reuse it for future submissions? If you don\'t you can still use it for this submission.",
+  "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.confirm": "Save a new name variant",
+  "submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.decline": "Use only for this submission",
   "submission.sections.general.add-more": "Add more",
   "submission.sections.general.collection": "Collection",
   "submission.sections.general.deposit_error_notice": "There was an issue when submitting the item, please try again later.",
diff --git a/src/app/core/cache/object-cache.service.ts b/src/app/core/cache/object-cache.service.ts
index 598fb3937d..6a07b8074d 100644
--- a/src/app/core/cache/object-cache.service.ts
+++ b/src/app/core/cache/object-cache.service.ts
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ export class ObjectCacheService {
   getObjectBySelfLink<T extends CacheableObject>(selfLink: string): Observable<NormalizedObject<T>> {
     return this.getBySelfLink(selfLink).pipe(
       map((entry: ObjectCacheEntry) => {
-          // if (isNotEmpty(entry.patches)) {
-          //   const flatPatch: Operation[] = [].concat(...entry.patches.map((patch) => patch.operations));
-          //   const patchedData = applyPatch(entry.data, flatPatch, undefined, false).newDocument;
-          //   return Object.assign({}, entry, { data: patchedData });
-          // } else {
+          if (isNotEmpty(entry.patches)) {
+            const flatPatch: Operation[] = [].concat(...entry.patches.map((patch) => patch.operations));
+            const patchedData = applyPatch(entry.data, flatPatch, undefined, false).newDocument;
+            return Object.assign({}, entry, { data: patchedData });
+          } else {
             return entry;
-          // }
+          }
         }
       ),
       map((entry: ObjectCacheEntry) => {
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/research-entities.module.ts b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/research-entities.module.ts
index 8144f634a7..1ac4828bb9 100644
--- a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/research-entities.module.ts
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/research-entities.module.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { PersonItemMetadataListElementComponent } from './metadata-representatio
 import { OrgUnitItemMetadataListElementComponent } from './metadata-representations/org-unit/org-unit-item-metadata-list-element.component';
 import { PersonSearchResultListSubmissionElementComponent } from './submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component';
 import { PersonInputSuggestionsComponent } from './submission/item-list-elements/person/person-suggestions/person-input-suggestions.component';
+import { NameVariantModalComponent } from './submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component';
 
 const ENTRY_COMPONENTS = [
   OrgUnitComponent,
@@ -42,7 +43,8 @@ const ENTRY_COMPONENTS = [
   OrgUnitSearchResultGridElementComponent,
   ProjectSearchResultGridElementComponent,
   PersonSearchResultListSubmissionElementComponent,
-  PersonInputSuggestionsComponent
+  PersonInputSuggestionsComponent,
+  NameVariantModalComponent
 ];
 
 @NgModule({
@@ -53,7 +55,7 @@ const ENTRY_COMPONENTS = [
     ItemPageModule
   ],
   declarations: [
-    ...ENTRY_COMPONENTS
+    ...ENTRY_COMPONENTS,
   ],
   entryComponents: [
     ...ENTRY_COMPONENTS
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.html b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f46319d16b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.html
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<div class="modal-header">
+    <h4 class="modal-title">New name variant</h4>
+    <button type="button" class="close" aria-label="Close" (click)="modal.dismiss('Cross click')">
+        <span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
+    </button>
+</div>
+<div class="modal-body">
+    {{'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.content' | translate: { value: value } }}
+</div>
+<div class="modal-footer">
+    <button type="button" class="btn btn-light" (click)="modal.close()">{{'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.confirm' | translate }}</button>
+    <button type="button" class="btn btn-light" (click)="modal.dismiss()">{{'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.decline' | translate }}</button>
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.scss b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.scss
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.spec.ts b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2f041bc391
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { async, ComponentFixture, TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+
+import { NameVariantModalComponent } from './name-variant-modal.component';
+
+describe('NameVariantModalComponent', () => {
+  let component: NameVariantModalComponent;
+  let fixture: ComponentFixture<NameVariantModalComponent>;
+
+  beforeEach(async(() => {
+    TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+      declarations: [ NameVariantModalComponent ]
+    })
+    .compileComponents();
+  }));
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(NameVariantModalComponent);
+    component = fixture.componentInstance;
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+  });
+
+  it('should create', () => {
+    expect(component).toBeTruthy();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.ts b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ea036e0b0f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+import { Component, Input, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
+import { NgbActiveModal, NgbModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
+
+@Component({
+  selector: 'name-variant-modal',
+  templateUrl: './name-variant-modal.component.html',
+  styleUrls: ['./name-variant-modal.component.scss']
+})
+export class NameVariantModalComponent implements OnInit {
+  @Input() value: string;
+
+  constructor(private modalService: NgbModal,
+              public modal: NgbActiveModal) {
+  }
+
+  ngOnInit() {
+
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.html b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.html
index baa3edcdc5..dd64f3880e 100644
--- a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.html
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.html
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 <ds-item-type-badge [object]="dso"></ds-item-type-badge>
 <ds-truncatable [id]="dso.id">
-    <ds-person-input-suggestions [suggestions]="suggestions" (typeSuggestion)="filter($event)" [(ngModel)]="selected" (clickSuggestion)="select($event)" (submitSuggestion)="select($event)"></ds-person-input-suggestions>
-<!--    <select>-->
-<!--        <option [value]="firstMetadataValue('person.familyName') + ', ' + firstMetadataValue('person.givenName')" [innerHTML]="firstMetadataValue('person.familyName') + ', ' + firstMetadataValue('person.givenName')"></option>-->
-<!--        <option *ngFor="let value of allMetadataValues('dc.title.alternative')" [value]="value" [innerHTML]="value"></option>-->
-<!--    </select>-->
+    <ds-person-input-suggestions [suggestions]="suggestions" (typeSuggestion)="filter($event)" [(ngModel)]="selected" (clickSuggestion)="select($event)" (submitSuggestion)="selectCustom($event)"></ds-person-input-suggestions>
     <span class="text-muted">
     <ds-truncatable-part [id]="dso.id" [minLines]="1">
             <span *ngIf="dso.allMetadata(['person.jobTitle']).length > 0"
diff --git a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.ts b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.ts
index c346a5bb03..27ee8fa21b 100644
--- a/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.ts
+++ b/src/app/entity-groups/research-entities/submission/item-list-elements/person/person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,18 @@ import { Context } from '../../../../../core/shared/context.model';
 import { RelationshipService } from '../../../../../core/data/relationship.service';
 import { TruncatableService } from '../../../../../shared/truncatable/truncatable.service';
 import { take } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { NotificationsService } from '../../../../../shared/notifications/notifications.service';
+import { TranslateService } from '@ngx-translate/core';
+import { DsDynamicLookupRelationModalComponent } from '../../../../../shared/form/builder/ds-dynamic-form-ui/relation-lookup-modal/dynamic-lookup-relation-modal.component';
+import { NgbModal } from '@ng-bootstrap/ng-bootstrap';
+import { NameVariantModalComponent } from './name-variant-modal/name-variant-modal.component';
+import { Community } from '../../../../../core/shared/community.model';
+import { MetadataValue } from '../../../../../core/shared/metadata.models';
+import { ItemDataService } from '../../../../../core/data/item-data.service';
+
+const NOTIFICATION_CONTENT_KEY = 'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.content';
+const NOTIFICATION_CONFIRM_KEY = 'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.confirm';
+const NOTIFICATION_DECLINE_KEY = 'submission.sections.describe.relationship-lookup.name-variant.notification.decline';
 
 @listableObjectComponent('PersonSearchResult', ViewMode.ListElement, Context.Workspace)
 @Component({
@@ -15,6 +27,7 @@ import { take } from 'rxjs/operators';
   styleUrls: ['./person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.scss'],
   templateUrl: './person-search-result-list-submission-element.component.html'
 })
+
 /**
  * The component for displaying a list element for an item search result of the type Person
  */
@@ -22,23 +35,30 @@ export class PersonSearchResultListSubmissionElementComponent extends SearchResu
   suggestions: string[];
   allSuggestions: string[];
   selected: string;
+  alternativeField = 'dc.title.alternative';
 
-  constructor(protected truncatableService: TruncatableService, private relationshipService: RelationshipService) {
+  constructor(protected truncatableService: TruncatableService,
+              private relationshipService: RelationshipService,
+              private notificationsService: NotificationsService,
+              private translateService: TranslateService,
+              private modalService: NgbModal,
+              private itemDataService: ItemDataService) {
     super(truncatableService);
   }
 
   ngOnInit() {
     super.ngOnInit();
     const defaultValue = this.firstMetadataValue('person.familyName') + ', ' + this.firstMetadataValue('person.givenName');
-    const alternatives = this.allMetadataValues('dc.title.alternative');
+    const alternatives = this.allMetadataValues(this.alternativeField);
     this.allSuggestions = [defaultValue, ...alternatives];
     this.suggestions = this.allSuggestions;
 
     this.relationshipService.getNameVariant(this.listID, this.dso.uuid)
       .pipe(take(1))
       .subscribe((nameVariant: string) => {
-        this.selected = nameVariant || defaultValue;
-      });
+          this.selected = nameVariant || defaultValue;
+        }
+      );
   }
 
   filter(query) {
@@ -48,4 +68,34 @@ export class PersonSearchResultListSubmissionElementComponent extends SearchResu
   select(value) {
     this.relationshipService.setNameVariant(this.listID, this.dso.uuid, value);
   }
+
+  selectCustom(value) {
+    if (!this.allSuggestions.includes(value)) {
+      this.openModal(value)
+        .then(() => {
+
+          const newName: MetadataValue = new MetadataValue();
+          newName.value = value;
+
+          const existingNames: MetadataValue[] = this.dso.metadata[this.alternativeField] || [];
+          const alternativeNames = { [this.alternativeField]: [...existingNames, newName] };
+          const updatedItem =
+            Object.assign({}, this.dso, {
+              metadata: {
+                ...this.dso.metadata,
+                ...alternativeNames
+              },
+            });
+          this.itemDataService.update(updatedItem).pipe(take(1)).subscribe();
+        })
+    }
+    this.select(value);
+  }
+
+  openModal(value): Promise<any> {
+    const modalRef = this.modalService.open(NameVariantModalComponent, { size: 'lg' });
+    const modalComp = modalRef.componentInstance;
+    modalComp.value = value;
+    return modalRef.result;
+  }
 }