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Changing your child's name

Changing your child's forename before their first birthday

Parents can change their child’s forenames during the first year after the date of registration.

A statutory fee is payable for this service and also a new birth certificate.

The forms you need to complete will depend on whether or not your child has been baptised.

Full details, including the relevant forms, are available from Âé¶¹¸ßÇå Register Office.

Note that it is not possible to change your child's surname by this method.

Changing your child's surname (and/or forename) after 12 months of the birth registration

It may be possible to change your child’s surname on re-registration, if

  • you marry or enter into a civil partnership with the natural father after your child’s birth was registered, or
  • you’re not married but you want the natural father’s name on the birth record after registering

For further details and forms, visit our re-register a birth page.


Page last updated: 2 October 2024