Impact of changing name of 7 month old baby - any ideas?

[RosiePosieFlump]

Hi,

As name changing seems to be a common thread, just wondering if anyone knows the repercussions of doing so?

Does the child have to state they have previously been known as a different name on official forms? (i.e. passport?).

I am thinking of changing names but don't want my child to be reminded of how indecisive his mother was for the first 7 months of his life!!

Thanks

yes they will

I changed DS's name, and the post office advised me to state the original name on his passport application. I'm not sure if he will have to state his original name on all official forms though

I don't think you do if its before 1 year - you have a year to change your mind so you won't need to state previously known by, they just amend the birth certificate to say to be known by.

I think.......

Hope this helps.

that's what I thought too LittleMissWorryHead. I stated his original name on his first passport appliaction because I had to enclose his long birth certificate, which has both names on it.

I have never had to use my own long birth certificate for anything

Thanks for your comments - I'm still not completely clear, as Passport Office told me I would need to use old name on form and give written/signed letter from both myself and DH authorising change!

Hattee - when have you found that you have to mention old name?

Thanks

Hi Rosie. So far, the only time I have had to mention his old name was on his passport application. I didn't even mention it on this to start with, as his new name is on his birth certificate (in box 17), so it is his name. I mentioned it to the man checking the application at the post office, and he said to mention the original name on the application form in the 'any previous names' section.

There were no problems in the passport processing, and I didn't have to send a letter authorising the change. I am in England by the way - if you are in Scotland the rules may be different.

I simply rang the child trust and the child benefit people to tell them the change; I didn't need to send them anything at all.

Hi hattee,

Thanks - it seems like it's not such a big thing if you can change it, tell everyone and then forget about it all!

Now I just need the courage to go ahead and change it!!

Good luck Rosie . I found the actual name change very easy to deal with - making the decision to do so was the difficult thing for me. It sounds silly, but I really agonised over the change/don't change decision for ages; it was keeping me awake at night. No one else seems to think it is a big deal though, and everyone has just accepted the new name.

I feel like a prize idiot for agreeing to a name I wasn't happy with . From the number of threads there have been on this recently though, it obviously happens. Changing DS's name was absolutely the right thing for me, and my only regrets are getting it wrong to start with, and not changing it earlier.

Hi

Yes - that is exactly how I feel!

We did have names ready, (I had twins) and then when they arrived everyone seemed to have negative things to say about the names we had chosen, and in my sleep deprived hormonal state I panicked and agreed to different names. Now I wish I had stuck to my guns!!

I really want to have names I love, not names I think are just OK...

Yes, my sleep deprived hormonal state had a lot to do with my decision too! DH liked the orginal name but I had no intention of actually using it, and had been desperately looking for a compromise. After DS was born, I felt in a rush to decide, and went with the name DH liked, as I just couldn't face an argument long conversation about it. Later, of course, I regretted it and wished I had just make it clear that not only did I not want to use the name, I didn't even like it.

I hope it works out for you. Let me know what you decide to do

I did this too.

To answer your original question - I called the general registrar (+44 (0)151 471 4806 if you need it), and they told me that the original name won't need to be specified as a previously known name if the new name is on the birth certificate

Oh I feel for you...have been questioning my own choice too tbh. Baby 3months. Good luck.

I have also been questioning my choice but have decided I will just try to get pregnant again so I hopefully get to use my favourite name

well my husband was adopted by his dad and when he went to get long birth cert for our wedding, he found out he had previously been known by another name, he didnt know, and so was filling in forms as normal, never had any come back tbh.
HTH

If you change your mind in the first 12 months you can re-register the child and they do not need to inform anyone of this name when they are older. They get a new birth certificate and everything.

I would recommend calling your DC by said new name for a while first though.

My sisters dd was known as Ruby for first 8 months of life, although from 2 months my sis had wanted to call her Heidi. Her DH finally agreed, so they called her that for about a week, but before they could register the new name they both found they felt so guilty at the change. I'm not sure why TBH, but I've never been in that situation. Plus, they were constantly reminded by other people who couldn't remember her new name.

I personally don't think there is anything wrong with changing her name, but you have to inform all your friends and relatives (sometimes several times) so I'd be really sure that you want to do it before you go and register.

I added a middle name to dd's name - this was straight forward and didn't need deed poll or anything and this name will be on short birth certificates but her original name without the added middle name will remain on the long birth certificate along with the new name. If you're changing a name completely I tihnk it has to be by deed poll and presumably the same thing will apply. Good luck - in years to come 7 months won't feel a bit deal at all.

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your messages and support!

We want to change the name before we write Christmas cards so will hopefully be doing so soon! (Otherwise, we will just have to put ...and family, instead of a name!!).

It's good to know that you don't have to include the first name on forms for the rest of their lives. (Maybe I'll just hide his long certificate until he gets married!!)