Registering a birth

You can change your child's first name within 12 months of the birth being registered.

How much it costs

For our fees, see Register Office Fees.

This must be paid when you make your application and it is non-refundable.

What you need to do

There are different ways to change your child's name, depending on whether your child was baptised or not.

If your child was baptised

If your child was baptised in a Christian church, you will need a 'Certificate of name given in baptism' completed by the vicar / minister of the church where the baptism took place.

A blank certificate is available from your local register office.

If your child was not baptised

If your child has not been baptised, you will need to complete a 'Certificate of name not given in baptism'.

These are available from your local register office.

You can take, or post, the completed certificate to the register office in the area where your child was born.

The registrar will add the new first name(s) to your child's entry in the birth register.

If you're posting the application, you will need to contact the register office to ask how to pay the fee.

New birth certificates

You should tell the registrar if you want a new birth certificate for your child.

If you buy a full certificate, it will show both the original and the new first names. If you buy a short certificate, only the new first names will be shown.

The registrar will let you know how much it costs for the certificates.

You should be aware that the passport office will want to see a full certificate rather than a short one.

Important information

• You can only record a change to your child's first names once.
• A change to your child's surname cannot be recorded in the birth register.
• If there are any court orders about the naming of your child, you must comply with the directions of the court.
• The changes to your child's first name(s) must have been made within 12 months of the birth registration. You might have the change recorded in the birth register after the 12 months, but you will need to provide documentary evidence that the name was changed within the 12 month period.
• Once your child has been baptised you cannot record a change to the Christian names given in baptism.