Changing baby name after 12 months!

[rocketscientist]

Basically, Ive grown to really dislike my baby's real name. He has a nickname that we use instead of his real name but I dont want to use that formally either. (Its cute but daft.) Im not against using the original name as a middle name but has anyone changed their baby's first name this late! Will it affect him badly? DH doesnt think Im serious, yet, but its driving me mad. (ds doesnt have any middle names at present as it was a nightmare choosing one name and we obviously got even that wrong!)

This is what direct gov says:

You can change a child?s forename in the following circumstances:

* new forenames were given in baptism or by regular use within 12 months of the birth being registered
* if your child has been baptised, only the baptismal names can be added to the register - the minister with custody of the baptismal register needs to confirm this with the 'Certificate of name given in Baptism' form linked below

Flowchart from UKDP:

www.ukdp.co.uk/pdfs/birth-certificate-flowchart-england-wales.pdf

TBH it's not a biggie if I have to do it by deed poll...I only want to choose whichever option is going to be the least hassle for her in the long run.

And surely anyone CAN apply for a passport in any name? Changing by deed poll is a fairly straughtforward affair as far as I can see.

Perhaps I was misunderstanding the direct gov info? I read it as:

The new forenames were given in baptism

or

by regular use within 12 months

IYSWIM?

Does the 12 months rider apply to both "in baptism" and "in regular use"?

that's really good to hear MH :)

I suppose the hassle I'm envisaging is when forms require you to declare any names by which you were formerly known. I suppose it only takes a few seconds longer to fill it out. I wonder if it affects processing time of passports etc?

And will DD's school / GP etc think I'm a loon?

no, you can't apply for a passoport in any old name. otherwise you'd have criminals with hundreds of passports.

to get a passport you uhave to send a copy of your birth certificate.

mahgichomes, maybe it's different for you as you weren't born in the uk? i don't know. but the site you linked to does not back up what you are claiming.

i'm not saying you are lying, just that your situation is different to the OP's.

i am capable of knowing about stuff without having first hand experience of it

That is true MH. :)

so tell me how you get a passport, when you need to send in your birth certificate as a supporting document to prove who you are

no, i am just wondering if perhaps the fact that you were not born in the UK meant it was ok for you to get a passport without using your birth certificate/under a different name

you're being very defensive.

your situation is NOT the same as the OP's. and as you cannot clarify whether or not your poace of birth meant it was a different scenario, and as the passport office clearly says it requires a birth certificate as proof of identity I think it would be prudent of the OP to assume that this is, in fact, the case.

I also think they are much stricter about procedures than they were X years ago when you would have got your first passport too.

once you HAVE a passport you can just keep renewing it so it wouldn't cause any problems for you now
but acquiring a first passport these days they're very strict about rules.

As you both seems so unhappy with his current name, I would just go ahead and change it. I think even changing by deedpoll is pretty straightforward to do. As DinahRod says, its not very often that previous names are asked for. I can't remember the last time I needed to state my maiden name, and I've hardly ever had to produce my birth certificate. As soon as your DS has a passport, this will become his primary ID.

We changed DS's name btw. I did it at about 5 months so just had the birth certificate changed, but I understand how you feel. I was really unhappy with the original name and felt instantly happier as soon as we decided to make the change