Changing my name - boring question needs answered.

[Havana]

Got married four years ago and didn't change my name as I didn't see the point. Now that I've got two kids I'd like us all to have the same surname.
Unfortunately my parents changed their minds about my christian name soon after I was born, in preference for my second name, so I have a redundant first name which has been an irritant/embarrassment to me all my life.
SO... my question is, can I now just drop my stupid first name when changing my surname (using my marriage certificate, in the normal way), or would I have to change my name by Deed Poll?
Sorry for posting the most boring message in the history of mumsnet, and please answer, somebody!!!

deed poll? I would ask at CAB.

personally I doubt you can drop your first name just using the marriage thing

If you're changing your name by deed poll you can call yourself any name you like (eg Screaming Lord Sutch), so no reason at all why you shouldn't just drop your first name, or change it round, so that the first name is now your middle name.

you can change your name by deed poll online. I did it when I divorced and reverted to my maiden name - really easy and my certificate came just days later.

this is not a boring thread, not for me at least, l've got a similar problem and from what libb has said it looks as if be easier for me to change my surname by deed poll than going through the palaver of having an italian marraige certificate translated, wouldn't it?

Same here as with libb, did it on line, all sorted within a couple of days, cost about £40.

As far as I'm aware you can change any part of your name to whatever you want - how about Havana Mumsnet?!

I changed my surname several years ago by deed poll and it cost £46 through a solicitor but I think you can also change it though statutory declaration where you just tell people you want to be known as Havana Mumsnet from henceforth. With solicitors I think they just need to be certain that you're not doing for duplicitous reasons and just tell them what you wrote here.

Havana - says on www.ukdps.co.uk/ that you can re-arrange first names so might be an option?
There seem to be loads of sites that only charge £10 or so, but don't know if they are above board.

I just want to thank all of you. super super I've just done it over the internet!! That has saved me an ignominous trip to the italian consolate (very famous for its long queues).
One less to think about...
Thanks again!!

My goodness what a helpful lot you mumsnetters are. Good to know that the deed poll thing is straightforward. I was just hoping I could save myself the £40 or so by doing it with the old marriage certificate alone. I'll check that site, thanks misty.
And here's another question for you. Will I have to pay to get a new driving licence if I change my name by deed poll (as opposed to the marriage way)? I don't imagine the DVLA could penalise you for getting married, but that they might want to charge for people who just fancied a name change.

I'm not sure about the DVLA but you've got to pay for the passport as if you're applying for a new one.
Check that site anyway, give you a lot of general info like this as well.