Advice needed please.

[Ncft45]

I’m sure someone here will be able to help me with this! Don’t know who to ask in RL!

Due to personal reasons, I have decided to add a very special family name as a second middle name for both of my children (I know many people will think this is pointless, but I means a lot to me and has been a big regret of mine since DC1 was born) I have sent off this evening for a deedpoll application form.
DC1 is 2 so I know there is a fee and it will always be shown as a change of name via deed poll. DC2 is 11 months old. What are the rules here? Anyone done this before?

I have dealt with same... Unfortunately you can't add a middle name whatever the age of dc. Unless by deed poll or live in NI!

Or double barrel dc 2 name? You can change a forename on bc before 1 year old.

Ok, so will need to pay for deed poll for both children to add the second middle name? I am willing to do that, just wasn’t sure if I need to for a child under one.

You can change the original birth certificate for a child under 1 as long as they haven’t been baptised / christened.

Re the deed poll - the older child will always have to fill in forms as ‘formerly known as’ on anything official but the under 1 would be treated as though that was the name from the start.

I changed my daughter’s name at 3 months old - there is a line at the very bottom of the birth certificate especially for the change.

To change the birth certificate you need to make an appointment with your local council registrar & both parents (if applicable on birth certificate / by marriage) need to attend / approve. You need to let them know ahead of the appointment what it’s for so they can get the original birth certificate out of records. I wasn’t charged but I think some councils charge an admin fee.

Why not use it as a middle name but not on official documents.
A bit like a baptism name.

I would like it to be official. They won’t be baptised as we aren’t religious. Thank you for the suggestion through.

AverageMummy oh that’s great news! I will call them tomorrow and arrange an appointment. I knew you could change the forename but wasn’t sure about middle names!

Called today and it’s going to cost me £50, more than I was expecting but I am willing to pay it to get it resolved.

I'm not sure how the baptism name works but I know of people who have an extra middle name, non-official, that is a saint's name.
I also know of people who use a middle name that isn't on their BC.

I'm glad that you have got it sorted OP.

I’m lead to understand by RC friends that Catholics often take a saints name at confirmation. After that it’s up to them whether they use that name as a middle name, though, of course, official documents won’t include it.
Glad you’ve got it sorted OP. Better to do something about it than to regret it in future.

That's what I meant. A confirmation name!