Changing first name of a child
If you decide to change your child's first name(s) within 12 months of the date of the registration of the birth you are able to do so on the original birth registration. Please contact us for further advice or to book an appointment.
If neither of the below reasons apply you may be able to change the child's first name but the birth registration will not be changed. Contact your local Citizen's Advice Bureau or a solicitor for advice.
Name changed by baptism
If the child's name has been changed by baptism in the Christian faith within the 12 month period after birth registration you can obtain a form from the Register Office to take to the Minister of the Church in which the child was baptised.
Once this form has been completed it needs to be returned to the Register Office and the amended names can be added to the original birth registration. This process can be done at any time after the birth as long as the baptism took place within 12 months of the registration.
Name changed not in baptism
If the child has not been baptised but you are able to prove that the change of name took place within 12 months of the registration you are able to update their birth registration by completing a form at the Register Office. This process can be done at any time after the birth as long as it can be proved that the change of name took place within 12 months of the birth registration.
How much does it cost?
The fee to make a change to the entry is £40.
Certificates
When the update to the registration is complete you can then purchase certified copies from this amended registration. The full copy certificate will contain both the original name and the new name.
The short version of these certificates will only record the child's amended forename(s).
