Changing a name

[HeavyDeuty]

I never thought I would be in this position, but I am seriously thinking of changing my 9 month old's name. I don't mind his current name, but I don't love it. It doesn't feel like the right name for him. I tend to refer to him as the 'little guy' or something similar to others because his name just doesn't feel quite right. We felt under pressure to name him and I felt we had picked the wrong name very early on. I've sat on those feelings, mistakenly, but they really haven't gone away. My husband feels similarly but less extremely, but is supportive of changing it.

Eurgh. There, I've said it - it's more real now! I will not relish telling people (especially not those who gave us personalised gifts)!

Anyway, stupidly we got a passport for him for a couple of upcoming flights - one I'd say is extremely unlikely to happen, the other is fairly unlikely. Has anyone got experience of changing the name once a baby already has a passport? And the implications for flights.. Or could I re-register him with the new name, but keep the passport and flight details the same until the flights have happened (or not).

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it.

Honestly I think you should change it. People will get used to it.

Change it now. He will never remember his old name. Do it now before he starts saying his own name.

Could you tell us what it is you don’t like about it a bit more? Too unusual? Too common?
Do you know what you would change it to?

It might be a bit difficult at first by 9 months he’ll know his name. Therefore do it ASAP.
It could be quite difficult to get an appointment, though with all this going on.
There’s nothing to stop you referring to him by his new name though before you get the appointment to get him used to it.
I know of someone who changed their baby’s name when she was 8 months old.
I obviously don’t know how long she took to get used to her new name, but all was okay AFAIK.

Change it
Don't worry about the holiday, leave his flight in the current name and change his passport next time you renew it

Thanks all. To be honest, I don't think it would make too much difference to him. We've called him such a range of nicknames. We've been trialling the other name today (it came down to these two in the first place, so much so that I have pictures of him at a couple of weeks old with both names written out in toy letters) and it feels much better. We're keen to keep trialling it for a couple more days before making any firm decisions.

His registered name is a much more 'old man' style name and the other name, although very old, I think sounds much more energetic and fun (though it's probably less known).

Is it legal to keep his passport and flight details the same?

You aren't going to be seeing a registrar anytime soon so think carefully about changing it.
I believe you have to do it before your child's first birth day and it needs aproval. You will have to have all your documents to travel so it depends on what name you have booked the holiday in.

Yes, I've checked and I don't need an appointment before his 1st birthday. I just need to fill in a form and pay a fee, so I guess there's more chance that we'll be able to do it in spite off the current lockdown.

Are the flights before or after his birthday?

one before (almost certainly not happening!), one after

My parents stopped using my first name and used my middle name at around the same age. I definitely suit my name now more than I would have my first name. I don’t remember a thing. Can’t advise on the holiday stuff, but surely that’s not as important as making the change if that is what you want. Am sure you can take him away with his passport as it is, who would know any different when you are going through customs? If you both agree, do it, and don’t worry about other people’s opinions.

I would change it if I were you.

Perhaps you could call him the new name anyway keep passport in current name then change at a more convenient time?
I would change it if I felt this way.

I think he would have to hand on his change of name paperwork along with birth certificate every time he applied for ID or a job wouldn't he? Or do they issue a new birth cert?

^if you are just changing the first name and do it before the baby's first birthday, you get a new birth certificate

I was in the same situation, felt under pressure when my daughter was born, a couple of months later I felt the same way as you do, we had two names and picked the less popular one, we changed it when she was 4 months old, and feel much happier now. All family and friends didn't question our choice to change. I'd say go for it.

Thank you all, I really appreciate your advice and personal stories. I've spoken to the registry office. They aren't making any appointments for the mo, but say we can do it by post. I think we're going to do it (if we don't bottle it)!

Go for it. You can start calling your son by his new name straight away, you don't have to wait for it to be 'official'.

Yes just call him the name you prefer. You could always keep his current name as a middle be so all the personalised gifts still mean something.

Yes we changed our daughters name after we got her passport and it didn't cause any issues.

We have never looked back and really can't imagine calling her by her original name now!

We did some research at the time and apparently they don't become really affiliated with their names until around 18 months so I wouldn't think it would effect your son in the slightest!

@HeavyDeuty just checking in, did you change your sons name?

Hi! Well we've taken the plunge and are in the process of changing it! We have filled out the forms for the registry office and we have now told most friends and family (by far the hardest part)! Most people have been really lovely, a few have immediately said they've never heard of his new name, how do you pronounce it, where is it from, why are we changing it, etc. But overall, I am definitely pleasantly surprised by the positive response we've had.

My ambivalence about changing it was all about what other people would say/think - I think all along I knew I really wanted to, I just didn't know if I dared. Once we made the decision to change it, though, I didn't mind what people said, I feel so much happier with his new name.

OP can I ask if you know if this applies for changing a baby's surname? I thought it was more complicated and you have to get it signed by a solicitor and justify it basically

ohwerehalfwaythere we changed our kids surnames, we just filled out a big standard deed poll and it was done, no need for solicitors. But you can't get a birth certificate reissued for surnames sadly unless you were unmarried when the children were born and then get married later. Then you can reregister the children as now being "legitimate" and get a new BC. But yeh, all you need to change a surname is about £15, an online form, and the consent of both parents.

@ByGrabtharsHammerWhatASavings I'm clearly googling the wrong things...could you send a link to the form you used? Thank you