Should we change her name?

[hbee]

Hi I just wanted some advice/opinions really. Our daughter is 8 mths old and I don't like her first name- long story. She has been Christened. We have ben having a hard time recently for various reasons and I have admitted to dh that I dislike the name. Does anyone know if it's posible to change it- if it isn't I'll have to learn to live with it.

I think it's more complicated once they've been christened but I think it's still possible to do it by deed poll. I was christened and my mum changed my surname at age 10 when she remarried by deed poll. Not sure if the same applies to first names, hopefully someone will come along who knows better than me.
Have you googled it?
Good luck

Thanks. Think I posted twice by mistake.

You have 12 months after the birth to change a name on their birth certificate. You just go along to your registry office at the council and they give you a form to fill out. It costs about £7 and you get a new birth certificate. I'm not sure how a Christening would affect this so it would probably be best to ring your local council/registry office.

Hope that helps a bit. Good luck.

Being christened, or more accurately baptised ( the actual act of the ceremony) has no legal implications on the name of your child. It is a ceremony that you undertake, and you make promises on behalf of your child, along with the Godparents, between yourselves and God. It has nothing at all to do with the legalities of the registration of the childs birth at all.

Why would you agree to have your child baptised with a name you do not want her to have? It makes the ceremony a bit of a mockery really. Its a religious ceremony.

My mum is a vicar so I know for certain that it bares no legal implication on you changing it at the registry office.

ON a more practical note, It does not need to be changed by deed poll unless after 12 months of the initial registry of the child after they were born. The only thing i'm not 100% certain of with this is if both parents have to sign the form to change the birth certificate.

What's the middle name? Could you call her by that name? x

I think you are mistaken susiecutiebananas. Th is is taken from www.direct.gov.uk/en/Governmentcitizensandrights/Registeringlifeevents/Birthandadoptionrecords/Regis teringorchangingabirthrecord/DG_175618

Changing a child?s forename
You can change a child?s forename in the following circumstances:

?new forenames were given in baptism or by regular use within 12 months of the birth being registered
?if your child has been baptised, only the baptismal names can be added to the register - the minister with custody of the baptismal register needs to confirm this with the 'Certificate of name given in Baptism' form linked below.

I changed DS's name at 5 months hbee - I was also obsessed with it but the change was easy and everyone just accepted the change. DS was baptised after the name change though so we were able to just have the certificate ammended. We kept the original name as a middle name

but a baptism isn't the same as a christening is it?

oh isn't it? I thought they were the same thing. I hope I'm wrong then

As I said, so long as it's within 12 months, it can be changed easily.

A baptism and christening is exactly the same thing.

THe points above, simply mean that it makes it even easier, if your child was baptised using a different name than that of the given name on the birth certificate. All it is doing is respecting the religious ceremony, which I was referring too.

AGain, I stress, a Baptism is a religious ceremony and between you and God. It is a ceremony within which you make promises on your childs behalf, to God, until such time as they can make them themselves through Confirmation.

threeinabed- all you have highlighted is that the law regarding naming, takes into account and respects this religious service, IF at the time of Baptism you use a different name than that which you registered your child with at birth. It doesn't make my point incorrect at all. It clearly states there that if the names used were different* from registering and baptism, or even, that you all just called your child a different name. i.e. They are registered as Lucy and you all called her Barbara for the first year of her life...
The OP has done the opposite. She has registered a name and had a baptism with the same name.

I'm pleased, reading this, that something which is a religious service is acknowledged by law and can be used to back up further wishes for your childs name.

I read it differently Susie. Yes, I agree that it is wonderful that the legal process respects the religious ceremony. However, my interpretation is that the birth certificate can only be ammended to the name given in baptism. i.e if Lucy is the registed name, but Barbara is given as as the baptismal name then the birth certificate given can be ammended to Barbara. If Lucy is given as the baptismal name, then the birth certificate cannot be ammended as only the baptismal names can be added.

I spoke the the registrars about this prior to changing DS's name and this is also what they told me at the time. Of course, it is possible that I was advised incorrectly so it is probaly best that you contact them directly Hbee as I doubt this thread has clarifed things for you. Good luck with your decision

I"M actually agreeing with you it can only be ammended to a name given at baptism, if that name is different to the original registered name.

I think the way I worded it made it seem otherwise perhaps...

Of course, the other point that is made under the 'rules' also state that if the child is called by a different name for the first 12 months by everyone,i.e. Barbara but registered as Lucy. This bit just 'caters' for want of a better phrase, for anyone who does not have a baptism or other religious naming ceremony. I hope that makes sense?

It's just giving the parents the option of changing the childs name, within 12 months, if Baptized then to that name - if its different, or if just wanting to change it, then also possible. And yes, if baptized, only to that given name.

At least, that is what I was trying to say i my last post

How would the registrar ever know that a baby had been given a certain name at baptism? You can choose what form you use, either the one for a baby never baptised or one for a baptised baby. Is there any way for the civil authorities to cross check? What I'm saying is, if there's a completely different name, not the baptismal name, that is now preferred, what's to stop parents opting for the form for a never-baptised baby and leaving sleeping dogs lying as far as the church is concerned...

My reading of the regulation is that only the baptismal name can be inserted as an alternative to the already registered name, and it completely supersedes any or all previously registered names, or the blank if no name has been registered

Sorry Susie - I must have misread your post. OP, you must be very confused by now.

Mathanxiety - I wonder the same thing

@mathanxiety old post but I’m wondering the same thing !