Changing the spelling of a name on the birth certificate

[PirateJelly]

We want to change the spelling of ds's name, I realise this will appear as an ammendmant on his birth certificate but does anybody know if this will cause him problems later on when he has to produce his birth certificate?

I feel really stupid doing this but we both dislike the spelling of ds's name and think it will look babyish when he's older, it's my fault as I was the one who pushed for this spelling but I really dislike it now

According to this if your ds is under 12 months it is possible.

Sorry should have said he's nearly 8 months old so I know it is possible, just wondering if anyone has changed a name/spelling and whether it causes any problems. Also worried ds will think I'm a complete idiot in years to come

I changed my ds's name - I added another middle name.

When I first applied for his passport, the post office did the check service and rejected my application, said I'd got the name wrong - which of course I hadn't.

I put a note in the additional info section and never had a problem with the actual passport office.

Now he has a passport in his new name, there are no problems. He has id teh same as anyone elses.

So , to cut it all short - it's not caused any problems at all.

I doubt whether your son (or anyone else) will be much bothered by a change in spelling - there may (I guess) be the occasional raised eyebrow when you tell people about the change but it will soon be forgotten. Changing the name altogether would be far more controversial!

Thanks for the replies, I agree madbad changing it altogether would cause too many problems, but if I'm honest I'm not that keen on it anyway but I feel at least if I change the spelling it will be more of a 'mans' name for when he's older.

Thanks Diamondhead, was it fairly easy yo change with the child benefit office too?

Is his name Susan?

PirateJelly - I changed DS's name (added a new first name and kept the original name as an additional middle name), and it hasn't caused any problems (not yet anyway - the change was almost 4 months ago). This may not be something you even want to consider, but I'm just throwing in there in case the only reason for you not doing this is the fear of the consequences. It was a big deal to me, but it didn't seem to be to anyone else

Thanks Hattee, I feel ds is to old now to change his name entirely as he is responding to it and everybody knows him by it.

By the way his current name is Louie and I want to change it to Louis as I feel this will be a more grown up name in the future, what do you think?

The reason I didn't go with that spelling orginally was because everybody thought it was Lewis when I spelt it

I think Louis is a gorgeous name (was on our list for ds) - I would change the spelling though as Louis is more classic imho.

We changed our minds about ds name when he was 3m and am now sooo glad we did. It's controversial for about a day then everyone just accepts it. It is hard naming babies!! Good luck with whatever you decide.

Louis is lovely! I also prefer the more classic spelling. I don't think it will cause him problems in future, and no one else will even give it any thought. Change it if it will make you feel happier

Louie is fine I think. Becoming more usual too. Also avoids the is it Loo-is or Loo-ee predicament!! Whatever you choose there are annoyances!! (and there are a few ways to spell most names)

Louie is fine I think. Becoming more usual too. Also avoids the is it Loo-is or Loo-ee predicament!! Whatever you choose there are annoyances!! (and there are a few ways to spell most names)

change to louis.louie is like female diminutive of louise

i changed my ds' name by deed poll when he was almost 2. i produced the deed poll when i informed benefits agency, got his passport etc. no drama at all

Tbh i would pronounce it Lewis too I dont think there is anything wrong with spelling it Louie, its one of my sons best friends name tho and he is a lovely little boy, so maybe i am biased

If its gonna annoy you in the future with people pronouncing it Lewis then i'd say leave it the way it is.

imo louie is too girly and cutsey for a boy.change it

You're right to change it.

You are right to change it - it will matter when it comes to university and job applications etc. However, it is a gorgeous name and you can blame the hormones for choosing to spell it as you did. I suspect you couldn't really imagine him growing up into a man at that point? Lovely lovely name - lots of people get it confused with Lewis but that's not your problem.

Cool name but yes I prefer the Louis spelling too!

umm, well MINE was changed and I have never had any problems.

Lovely name & would change the spelling to Louis.

ChasingSquirrels - did you ever mind that your name was changed? This was one of my main concerns when we made the decision to change (DS was just under 6 months old when we changed it, though I had been obseessing over it for months). This was why I kept the original name as an extra middle name, despite really not liking it (also, DH still loves it - he has odd taste, maybe that is why he married me!).
Also, have you ever had to mention your original name on official forms?

well, mine was only a spelling change an a to an e. My mum said it was wrong as soon as my dad came back from registering me and they applied for it to be changed straight away but it took quite a few weeks apparently.

I have never seen any paperwork with the original spelling, and have never had to mention it on anything official.

I guess mt parents would have done my initial passport application, not idea if it was mentioned on that, and from then on it is just a renewal. Never mentioned for driving licence, marriage thing, any visa's etc.

Just asked - they had to return the original when they got the new one - but it was 37 years ago!