General Register Office Northern Ireland > Home > Name Changes 

Name Changes

Change of name following parents’ marriage

Where a child is registered as born to an unmarried couple, the birth should be re-registered should the couple get married.  Re-registration also provides the facility to change the child’s name and surname if required.

Change of name following the inclusion of father’s details

Where the father’s details have not been included on a child’s birth registration, re-registration may, in certain circumstances, be allowed.  This may also allow a change of name and surname.

Recorded change of name (if  the above does not apply)

The law of Northern Ireland allows anyone born or legally adopted in Northern Ireland who wishes to do so to change their name (refers to forename(s) and/or surname).

The change can be recorded against the appropriate entry in the birth or adoption register.

The change is made by recording a notation on the birth entry.  The birth certificate will show the original name AND the recorded change.

(Example: John Smith changes his name to John Brown.  The birth certificate will show John *Smith; and an annotation, usually at the bottom of the certificate, e.g. *change of surname to Brown recorded on ….)

There are a variety of name change procedures to comply with the law.

Change of Name for Children under 2 years of age

Baptismal Name Change

If the child’s name has been changed by baptism, a Certificate of Baptismal Name should be completed and signed by the person who performed the ceremony of baptism or who has custody of the register in which the baptism is recorded.

Non-Baptismal Name Change

If the child’s name has been changed other than by baptism, a Certificate of Non-Baptismal Name Change should be signed by the Qualified Applicant(s) (see Qualified Applicants below).

Please note: Only one change of forename(s) may be made up to the age of two.  Any application must be made before the child’s second birthday.

Change of Name and/or Surname for Children over 2 but under 18 years of age

If the child is over 2 but under 18 years of age, the application to change a name and/or surname must be made by the Qualified Applicant(s).  The new name or surname must have been in use for 2 years – see Documentary evidence.

Qualified Applicant(s)

The Qualified Applicant(s) for an alteration to a child’s name are:

• the father and mother of the child if –
  • they were married too each other at the time of the child’s birth; or
  • they were not married to each other at the time of the child’s birth but the father has parental responsibility for the child
• the mother of the child if the parents were not married to each other at the time of the child’s birth and the father does not have parental responsibility for the child;
• the surviving parent if either of the parents of the child is deceased and the surviving parent has parental responsibility for the child;
• the guardian of the child or any other person who has parental responsibility for the child if –
  • both the parents are deceased; or
  • either of the parents are deceased and the surviving parent does not have parental responsibility for him.

Change of Name and/or Surname for a person over 18 years of age

Persons over the age of 18 can apply for a change of name or surname to be recorded.  The new name or surname must have been in use for 2 years – see Documentary evidence. They must complete and sign their own application form.

Documentary Evidence

The change of name and/or surname will only be recorded if evidence is produced that shows the use of the new name or surname for a period of not less than 2 years prior to the date of application.  You should produce two documents but only one needs to show that the name has been in use for at least two years. The following are examples of acceptable documents:-

• Passport
• Insurance Policy
• Medical Card
• Marriage Certificate
• Bank Book
• Driving Licence
• School CertificateMembership
• Card of union or other association
• Examination Certificate
• Library card

(other documentary evidence may be acceptable)

If the evidence provided is not satisfactory, the Registrar General may accept a copy of a notice inserted in a newspaper circulating in the area where the person lives, specifying:

• The persons intention to apply to the Registrar General to have the new name and/or surname recorded, and
• That the new name and/or surname has been in use for at least two years immediately before the date of insertion in the newspaper.

How many name changes can be recorded?

One baptismal/non-baptismal name change may be recorded up to the age of two.  No further change of name can be recorded before the age of eighteen.

If a child has not had a baptismal/non-baptismal name change, one change of name may be recorded between two and eighteen years of age.

One change of surname can be recorded for a child between two and under eighteen years of age.

If you are eighteen or over one change of name and up to three changes of surname can be recorded.  There must be a gap of five years between each change of surname.

Fees

Baptismal/non baptismal name change - £15.00

Recording of change of name and/or surname for children over 2 but under 18 years of age - £31.00

For second or subsequent members of the family(if applying at the same time) - £15.00

Recording of change of name and/or surname for a person over 18 years of age - £31.00

The above fees are for recording the change only.  To obtain a certificate showing the recorded change:

Certified copy of entry of birth - £12.00

Certified copy where details supplied - £6.00