changing name at 15 months

[FF1]

I'm thinking of changing my daughter's name, even though she is already 15 months. I know this is pretty late in the day. Does anyone know how much this is likely to cost and how easy or difficult it is?

Should be fairly easy, change it by dead-pole online and then use the dead pole to update passports etc Niece did this and and it cost around £65. Name change and updating ID documents were fairly hard for niece, took multiple other documents ( proof of using new name) but after you have one form of ID (passport) anything else is sorted as you have the proof of the updated name

thank you, the thing that concerns me is that you have to have a solicitor to authorise your signature, I think this is where the costs will come from. Did you niece do this before 12 months? Thank you

My nieces daughter was two, she was allowed just a witness to sign hers.
https://deedpolloffice.com/apply/form#heading
Used this website, she’s never had it turned down etc her daughters now 4 and all legal documents are new name

thank you that's very helpful, I was looking on the government website and it was all very confusing and not user-friendly but this looks better, thank you

Just to say unless it's completely different for children, there's no official legal name in the UK and you don't need a deed poll to be authorised or registered anywhere. We're changing our surname as a married couple, and just used a free deed poll site to create an official looking document (ie https://freedeedpoll.org.uk/) with witnesses signing it, and it's been accepted everywhere - banks, passport office etc.

Thank you for the advice, scary the amount of money that people seem to try to make out of this, feeling a bit vulnerable about this tbh

why are you wanting to change it. Quite late in the day to do it isn’t is surely your child responds to their name now so would be confusing to change it
would it not? Or do you already refer to them as the new name?

You can change her name easily, as mentioned, but you cannot change a child's birth certificate after 12 months old. So her paperwork will always differ from the name on her birth certificate.

Yes, change it to what?

Are you just wanting to tidy things up, e.g. you gave her an unusual spelling and want to make it easier (e.g. Izzabell to Isabel), or you call her exclusively by her middle name and want to reverse the order?

Or is this one of those situations like "I named her Harriet but now I think I made the wrong choice and I want to rename her Amanda"?

Because if it's the latter, I think that needs some serious thought and unpicking. And it will cause her inconvenience throughout her life, as her birth certificate won't change.

Yes, I agree it is not something I am doing lightly, Her name is Lucy and I feel so horrified by what the nurse has done. I don't want her to be prejudiced and associated with this name now. I still really like the name but it is affected me psychologically to think that people will associate her with this whether consciously or unconsciously. I am really upset about it tbh.

Lucy is such a common name you don’t need to worry about people making that association. Especially once the news about these awful events dies down.

OP I totally agree the actions of that nurse are appalling but it sounds like you need to spend less time watching/reading the news if you are drawing these links. I know a lovely person by the name of Rose…I don’t for a second think of Rose West when I think of them for example

I would hope so but I also feel that a lot less people will be choosing that name for their children now, maybe it's just my feelings but I'm pretty depressed about her having a name that so many people will associate with this. I do like the name still but it is an unfortunate coincidence and people do make associations whether they mean to or not sadly.

The first Lucy I think about when I hear the name is Lucy Bronze who has represented England magnificently this summer.
I'm sure people won't think of the nurse when they hear your daughter's name.

Unless her surname is Letby or similar this is mad.

Do you genuinely think of Rose West when you meet a Rose?!

Of course she won’t be “prejudiced” by her name. Lucys are a dime a dozen, you’re overthinking it. There are still babies being named Fred and Harold and Rose and Ted, despite those associations.

Oh Lucy is a really beautiful, pretty, classic name. I'm sorry this is happening to you. Maybe let some time pass before doing something you might regret.

I really don't think anyone would ever associate her name with LL. It would be different if the name was particularly unusual like Myra which was always associated with Hindley as there were hardly any Myra's to begin with. I'm not saying Lucy is an overly common name but it's used often enough to be common enough if that makes sense?

I really think you are over reacting.
I wouldn't change a child's name for that reason, especially at 15 months when they know and respond to their own name - it's part of who they are.
Lucy is a beautiful, commonly used name, hearing you introduce your child as Lucy wouldn't make me think of that monster. Like the previous poster said, Rose and Fred(die) are popular childrens names - no one associates them with the West's.

Think about the impact that YOUR Lucy will have on the world, the light that YOUR Lucy will shine and the happiness that YOUR Lucy will bring to those who know her.

I absolutely adore the name Lucy. I think it's pretty, simple and elegant and can't find one single fault with it as a name. Take ownership of it (on behalf of your daughter) and change your attitude. Don't let Lucy Letby spoil this beautiful name for you, but rather focus on your daughter's light that the name represents.

It wouldn't even occur to me to make the connection. To me Lucy is just a name
If I had s child called I would think of them when I heard the name not someone I don't know who had been convicted of terrible crimes. She doesn't own the name. And I don't think anyone would think about her when they are talking to your child.
I think you will be making a mistake if you change your child's name at this stage. It will confuse her. Then when she is older and she sees her birth certificate is different from her legal name she might be upset that you made the link .

With ask due respect you are being stupid. Leave her name alone, it's HER name and not yours. Charge her nickname, call her Lula or cici but do not give your child your hang ups. Her birth certificate will always say Lucy and so what's the point? And for ask the bad that nurse has done, it absolutely does not tarnish ask the Pele with that name. Boys are still called Jack ( the ripper) Peter (sutcliffe) and it doesn't make a bit of difference.

You are being ridiculous.

@FF1 i started a thread about this earlier under a different user name, on baby names called the name Lucy- it’s near the top. I’ve now NC again as could be outing! Lucy is a beautiful, classic name and my Lucy, and all the Lucy’s I know IRL are amazing…I did fleetingly think oh will it be associated and started a thread, just to get the perspective of other parents with Lucy’s, but please see the responses I got! Even now I feel silly for even starting the thread, as today it’s not even headline news anymore so already dropping off the radar. Don’t let this put you off what is a fab name…and please think before getting your daughters names changed, as PP have said, it will be more confusing for her now, and also probably draw more attention when she tells the story when she is older about when and why her name was changed. I’ve actually been thinking today and reminded myself of all the reasons I like the name 😊.

I think you are massively over reacting sorry and it's just plain silly to change her name for this reason and at this age

Thank you for the comments, I probably am overreacting, sorry, As all (well 99.9%) of parents I just want the best for her and I'm trying to act in her best interests, although I am so upset about what has happened, maybe I'll just give it a couple of weeks before this has blown over in the media. The name itself to be honest I love and it feels terrible that such evil is associated with what is a pretty name imo

You're being silly. No one will associate the name with LL.