create function udf_get_first_name (@string nvarchar(100))
    returns nvarchar(50)
as
begin
    declare @first_name nvarchar(50)
        set @string = ltrim(@string)
        set @string = rtrim(@string)

    if dbo.udf_get_number_of_spaces(@string) > 0
        set @first_name = left(@string, charindex(' ',@string) -1)
    else
        set @first_name = @string
    return @first_name
end