Increase in child name changes

by Tina Clough, 27 January 2009.

New figures released by The Legal Deed Service show that instances of parents changing their children's names almost doubled compared with the previous year.

With names ranging from Apple, Blue Angel, Fifi Trixibell and Moxie CrimeFighter the name given to Penn Jillette's bundle of joy, it is not a surprise that the match to the name change phenomena amongst us mere mortals has officially been lit.

Jamie Jackson, Chief Executive of The Legal Deed Service, whose firm offer the chance to change  your child's name for just  £11.50, said, "It is sheer madness, the other day I began speaking to a customer about wanting to change their name from Mackenzie to Ella. 

It was only right at the very end of the conversation, when she asked where to enter her mums card details that I realised she was just nine years old!"

"We also had a young boy, whose parents contacted us wanting to call their son 'Steven Gerrard' partly down to their fascination with football, but this is just a snippet of children's name changes we have carried out."

Not only have celebrities fuelled the demand for crazy children's names, the sheer simplicity of the whole process may be held responsible. A child's legal name can easily be changed by Deed Poll for a very small cost, providing that everyone with parental responsibility for the child consent's to the name change. 

Mr Jackson added, "Once a birth has been registered, a child's legal name can only be changed on the birth certificate for up to twelve months afterwards.  There are exceptions to this rule: however, in general, only forenames can be changed.  Once this period has elapsed, the only way it can be changed is by Deed Poll.  We get many instances of parents wanting to change their child's name by Deed Poll after the break-up of a marriage and this is where there are the most problems."

If the child's parents are separated, and the child was born after 2003 and the father was named on the birth certificate, it is not possible to change your child's name without the fathers consent. However, there is an option to get a court order if the father does not give his consent, but is it  right to change your child's name by Deed Poll through the courts and is it fair?

Mr Jackson has mixed opinions, "I think making a name change an issue of the court, is not going to be good for any child, as it will no doubt cause visible conflict, but then there is the flip side of the coin.  Some couples want to re-marry and I can see how they would want their child to have the same family name as everyone else.  Many couples tend to wait until the child is old enough to make their own decision, which often works very well"

According to English law, with any name change application being brought to the courts, the welfare of the child is paramount and the court refer to the guidance and the criteria laid out in section 1(3) of the Children Act 1989.

This was a huge factor in the recent press surrounding a young girl from New Zealand, whose parents named her 'Tahula does the hula from Hawaii'.  The girl was so socially debilitated by her name, that it was left to the courts to change it for her. The judge concluded that in accordance with the Children Act 1989 that it was not in the best interests of the child.

Mr Jackson added, "Not all clients are able to get the consent of the other parent.  In some circumstances it is possible to change the child's name if you are unable to satisfy the necessary requirements of parental consent, but only if the father has been absent for five years or more.  If on the other hand, there is a problem with getting consent, we are more than happy to provide free support and assistance using the National Helpline - 0845 299 85 87".

Text: © 2009, The Legal Deed Service Ltd.

This page was last updated: 28th April 2009

 

 

 

 

                                

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