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Can you change a baby’s name after birth?

Sometimes a name that felt right in the hospital does not feel right a few weeks later. In England and Wales it is often possible to change it, but the rules and costs are set by the register office, so check with yours.

Try the new name with your surname

First, take a breath

Many parents change their minds in the first weeks. You have up to 42 days to register a birth in England and Wales, so you do not have to decide on day one. If you are still undecided, use the time.

What councils usually say

Several council register offices say that a child’s first name can be changed within 12 months of the birth being registered. The original entry is not erased. The new name is added to it. The process often depends on whether the child has been baptised, and there is usually a fee. These details come from individual councils and they differ, so treat this as a starting point and not as the rule.

  • Ask the register office that holds the birth entry.
  • Ask what forms it needs and what it charges.
  • Ask what happens after 12 months. Councils usually point to a deed poll.

This guide covers England and Wales only

Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own registration rules. If you registered the birth there, ask your local registrar.

Agree it together before you ask

Decide with your partner what the new name is and why, so you only have to go once. Say the full name aloud with the surname, and try it written down.

Test the new name first

Before you start the paperwork, try the new first name with your surname and any middle names in the free full name checker, and check the initials. If you and your partner disagree, each choose names separately and compare only the ones you both picked.

Worksheet and sources

Try the next check

A little game for two

Baby Name Jar is a free daily game for choosing your baby’s name together. You each drop a name in the jar, nobody sees the other’s until you have both added yours, and then the jar opens and you find the names you both love.

Start your jar, it’s free

Questions

Is there a time limit?

Councils commonly say 12 months from registration for a first name, but ask your own register office, because the details are theirs to confirm.

Does it cost anything?

Usually, yes. Fees are set locally and change, so ask your register office for the current amount.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a general guide from what councils publish. Your register office is the place to check.

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