How do I change a child’s forenames on the birth certificate?
You can only change your child’s forenames on the birth certificate provided that the new forenames were given either in baptism or by regular use within 12 months of the birth being registered.
The new forenames may be added to the birth record after 12 months, but you will need to provide documentary evidence that the new forenames were in use within 12 months of the date of registration.
Only the mother, father or guardian of a child can apply for a child's change of forename to be recorded and forename changes may only be made once in the birth register – any later forename changes cannot be recorded.
- If you have changed your child’s forenames by baptism in a Christian church
You should ask the vicar or minister who performed the baptism to fill in Form 13 – Certificate of Name Given in Baptism. He or she may make a small charge. You can also obtain this form from any register office in England or Wales.
Only the baptismal names may be added to the register.
Once completed, the form needs to be taken to your local register office, and then in some cases it may need to be sent on to the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport for processing.
Then a parent or guardian must attend the register office where the child was originally registered. The new forenames are then added to the space at the end of the birth record.
If you no longer live in the district where the birth took place, you can attend any register office in England or Wales who will forward the completed Form 13 to the office where the birth was originally registered. If you require copies of the amended certificate, these can be paid for in advance by cheque or postal order payable to The Superintendent Registrar.
Use this DirectGov link to Search for your local Register Office.
- If you have changed your child’s forenames by regular use
You should fill in Form 14 – Certificate of Naming (also known as a Certificate of Name Given not in Baptism). This form should only be used where the child has not been baptised.
Once completed, the form needs to be taken to your local register office, and then in some cases it may need to be sent on to the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport for processing. You may also need to provide documentary evidence of the forenames being used by your child in the 12 months since the birth registration. These could include an immunisation card, a bank statement or NHS letter.
Then a parent or guardian must attend the register office where the child was originally registered. The new forenames are then added to the space at the end of the birth record.
If you no longer live in the district where the birth took place, you can attend any register office in England or Wales who will forward the completed Form 14 to the office where the birth was originally registered. If you require copies of the amended certificate, these can be paid for in advance by cheque or postal order payable to The Superintendent Registrar.
Use this DirectGov link to Search for your local Register Office.
The amended birth certificate
On the Full birth certificate (showing parentage), the child’s forenames remain as originally registered in Space 2 (near the top of the certificate) but the new forenames (and original surname) are added to the space at the end of the birth record (in Space 17).
Short versions of the birth certificate show just the new name with the date and place of birth.
There is no charge for adding the new names to the birth register, but there is a fee to purchase the new Short or Full birth certificates. For our up-to-date certificate fees, click on
Register Office Fees. You will be charged for a
Certified Copy Certificate at time of registration. Please Note: The fee for a birth certificate rises as soon as your appointment is over.