Has anybody come across any problems when changing DC's name?

[Christmasbelle]

Hi all, just after a little advice from anyone who has gone about changing their DC first name. I have contacted the local registry office and they are sending out a form in the post for me to complete. We have not baptised her yet but just wondered if having a different name on the longer certificate has caused any problems for any other MN's DC who have been in a similar situation.

We have decided that we are going to still keep the original first name, so now she will have two middle names instead of one but would like to have her original first name as her second middle name instaed of her first middle name (if you are still following me). Do you think putting the names in a different order will be too confusing when referring to the longer birth certificate or would you keep it in the order it reads already? I know the short birth certificate will show the new full name but obviously do not want to over complicate matters.

Also for those of you who have changed their DC's name, as it in general caused any problems when sorting out a passport, Child Benefit etc or any other legal stuff that wants to see the longer certificate.

Sorry for waffling on but any advice would be appreciated.

So... if I've followed this right, it would be changing from (for example!) Charlotte Jane Lastname to Rebecca Jane Charlotte Lastname?

Hi HelenaRose. yes, that's right. Confusing I know.

Do you think I should keep it in the same order as in (using your example) Rebecca Charlotte Jane Lastname instead of moving the Charlotte to just before the Last name. Do you think it matters?

I know it is just a middle name but I would prefer e.g Jane to be after her new first name, as it is my grandmothers name and I would rather that was used in preference to her old first name

I haven't had any experience of changing names, but I do know that you can change it from anything to anything. If it sounds prettier or if that's how you want it, do it. :)

Will the original name still be on the birth certificate, in addition to the new name?

I did this. I also kept the original name as an extra middle name, but I kept them in the same order. It was surprisingly straightforward. There were no problems with applying for his first passport - I just explained in the notes that his name has been changed, and to refer to section 17 on his birth certificate for the new name (as the original name remains in section 2). I just phoned the child benefit people and told them about the change - they didn't even ask for any written evidence. I can't see why changing the order of the existing names would make things any more complicated really

Thanks HelenaRose.

rachel234
Yes the original name will still be on the birth certificate but it will become a second middle name. The long birth certificate remains the same but a new short certificate is given out stating the new name.

Thanks for your post threeinthebed. It is reassuring to know others have done this as well. I think I was just a little concerned that if I changed the order of the names, the long certificate and short wont be the same when cross referencing them. Where as if I kept the order, it is like you said the new name gets put in section 17 and the overall name still looks the same. What I am unsure about is if I change the order, do they add this change as well to box 17 - if you follow me but like you said, would it complicate things anyway [hmmm]

Hi Christmasbelle - the new name will appear in full in box 17, regardless of whether or not you change the order of the names - so it will match the name on the short birth certificate. Box 2 will remain unchanged (so will have the original name). Do whatever feels right to you :)

Ah thanks threeinabed, I didn't realise that they put the full new name in box 17, I thought they would just add the new first name to that box. That has definately made me feel happy about rearraging the full name. Thankyou so much, you have been a big help . I just did not want her to have any problems in the future with things not matching on the long and short certificates.

You're welcome :)

can i ask what age you both have done this?
i have in the past considered doing this and just wondered...

Hi Clumsy. My DD is 12 weeks old now and I felt unsure of her first name as soon as I had registered her, so me and DH made the decision to change it about 4 weeks ago and feel much happier. She is going to end up with quite a long name now, as I feel I dont want to drop her original first name but I am sure it will be fine. I am just waiting to recieve the form from the registry office, so as soon as I have completed that it should be all sorted. I am sure you know already but you can change the birth certificate up tp 12 months from registering the birth

Clumsy - my DS was 5 months old. I never liked his original name, even when I was pregnant. It was DH's choice and after the birth I was too weary to protest. I thought I would just get used to it, but I never did and didn't like telling people his name. I am glad we changed it. Even though I still don't like the original name, I felt uncomfortable dropping it completely so it is now his second name.

thanks guys.i fear it is to late for dd...i know this really.i should have changed it a long time ago.
well done you for having the courage to do it.
i feel the same way as you threeinabed dp's choice,i was to worn out by constant name hunting(i found loads i just 'couldnt' use alot of them,dp vetoed or said that he already knew someone by that name) so i just gave in and went with his choice,shes two now,so far to late really,i did pick her mn though so ive just been using that mostly and i did pick ds's name,which i love even though it wasnt my first choice iyswim?!

clumsy and three in abed i could have written both your posts . we have just changed dd4 nane to her middle name her original name was dh's choice and although i disliked it even while pregnant i was to tierd to argue and fed up with dh vetoing everything i suggested .so reluctantly went along with it .i really tried to love her name but just couldn't .

finally 9 months on she has a name i can say without feeling sad and actually love and it is a really lovely feeling .

Hi Smilingserenely - Although my DH did not choose my DD's name, he found negatives in most of the names I suggested (even though he did not suggest anything himself). In the end I felt that I picked a name I liked but not loved and it really got me down, Now I love her new name and feel so much better

im so glad you all managed to do this,it makes me so sad i didnt.but you never know,she might choose to change it to her mn when she gets older [hopeful emoticon]

Hi Clumsy - Try not to feel sad. It sounds to me like you have still included a middle name that you love and I don't see why you couldn't encourage this a little more!!! .

That was what I was set on doing, until we decided to change it officially. I am sure the more your DD hear's the name being dropped in conversation, the more she will want to use it herself as she gets older.