You can change your child’s first name in the UK, provided you have the legal right to do so and follow the proper procedure. The exact steps depend on your child’s age and whether everyone holding parental responsibility agrees to the decision.
Changing a Name Within the First 12 Months
At the Register Office
You can amend or add a first name on the birth certificate through your local registry office within 12 months of registering the birth.
Via Baptism
If the new first name was given during a Christian baptism within that first year, the officiating minister can provide a certificate to update the entry.
This birth register update can only be done once. The original name remains on the historical record, but the new name is noted alongside it.
Changing a Name After the First Year
Once your child turns 1, you cannot alter their original birth certificate simply because you changed your mind. Instead, you must use a formal legal document known as a deed poll. The GOV.UK guidance confirms that a child’s name can be changed by an unenrolled deed poll or by enrolling a deed poll with the High Court.
A deed poll allows you to update official records like passports, GP registrations, and school files:
Parental Consent
Every person with parental responsibility must give written consent. If a father is listed on the birth certificate, or if parents share joint responsibility, one parent cannot make the change alone.
Court Orders
If a parent with parental responsibility refuses to consent, you cannot use a deed poll. You must apply to the family court for a Specific Issue Order, where a judge decides if the change is in the child’s best interests. GOV.UK confirms that where someone with parental responsibility does not agree, a court order can be required.
Young People Aged 16 and Over
When a child turns 16, they reach the legal age to change their own name by deed poll. They do not need parental consent, provided they understand the implications of the decision.
Read more information on Surnames, Deed Polls and UK Laws.
For help changing your name via Deed Poll, contact DeedPoll.com on 020 8017 2216.
