How to Legally Change Your Name in the UK

Legally changing your name in the UK.

Changing your name in the United Kingdom is very easy and does not require the services of any solicitor or government agencies. You can choose any name you like including technically unpronounceable names and socially un-liked names if you so desire. You cannot use names such as 'Doctor' or 'Lord' if it can be proved that you only choose those names with an intent to deceive people or organisations. But, for example, Lord Sutch (or Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow) was the known name of the founder and leader of the Monster Raving Loony Party, an official political organisation in the UK. He was not a member of the peerage though. Another example of where you could use a title without intent to deceive would be when the name is obviously meant to mock, such as Doctor Makemefeelbetter or Doctor Who.

It is not necessary to change your birth certificate however it is possible but quite difficult and more involved.

How many names can you have?

You can choose to have just one name or many names. However if you decide to have just one name, in this modern day, it can cause a few minor problems. For example, most computer systems used by banks, government offices and other companies are programmed to have a surname and a first name entered into their databases. Examples of people only known by a single name are Madonna, Bono and Prince. There is also an example of parents, back in the eighties, who named their son after every member of the Arsenal football team!

Changing your name in it's simplest form.

In simple terms you decide on the name you want and tell everyone that is your name from now on and that name is how you want to be addressed. You must write to every organisation and government body who recognise you under your old name and inform them of your new name. Examples of the organisations you must or might need to inform are :

Your bank if you have one.

The inland revenue and national insurance agencies.

The passport office if you have an existing passport.

The DVLC if you have a drivers licence.

Your local council.

Any organisation you belong to.

Any government authority that knows you by your old name.

Writing a deed poll to confirm your name change.

Although not legally necessary, it is worthwhile to make public your change of name by a small classified advertisement in a local or national newspaper or by writing yourself a deed poll which is witnessed by two persons. A deed poll is simply a statement that you can write yourself proclaiming that you have a new name. As an outline you would include in the document at least the following.

The date of the statement (deed poll)

What you old name was and that you are relinquishing it from a specified date.

The address where you reside at the time of the change.

A sample of your old signature.

What your new name is or will be from a specified date.

A sample of your new signature.

The names, addresses and signatures of two independent witnesses.

The statement should end with the words Signed, sealed and delivered.

You and each of the witnesses should keep a copy but you can then make copies of the document and send it to the people who need to know.

Illegal reasons to change your name.

It is illegal to change your name and pretend to be someone else or change your name to prevent legal proceedings from continuing or using it for any other fraudulent use, such as avoiding bankruptcy. As mentioned earlier it is also illegal to change your name with the intent to deceive by using a title.

Changing your name could create some problems.

You must also consider that it could some problems at certain places if you decide to call yourself 'Bonnie Prince Charlie' or 'Queen Elizabeth' or 'Adolf Hitler'. However, if you are queried over your name and you can provide evidence that it is your known name it is not illegal to use such names.

Again although not technically illegal and probably not desirable, you can even name yourself by a swear word or swear words. However, in section five of the UK Public order act of 1985 there is a statement that a person is guilty of the offence if that person engages in disorderly behaviour by any conduct or written material likely to cause distress in a public place. So if you are in a busy bank and inform the teller when they ask for your name that you are named f******* c***, it is possible you could be charged under this offence. Indeed there is an electronics company call Wayne Kerr Electronics and although not spelt the same way as the swear word, phonetically it tends to be the same.