After baptism
You may be able to change your child's first name(s) within 12 months of the date that you registered the birth. If the child has been baptised in the Christian faith within the 12 month period after birth registration you can obtain a form from the register office to take to the Minister of the church where the child was baptised.
Once this form has been completed it must be returned to the register office and the new first names can be entered into the birth register. This can be done at any time after the birth as long as the baptism took place within 12 months of the registration.
You can then purchase certified copies from this amended registration. A full copy certificate will contain both the original name and your baby’s new first name, given in baptism. The following pdf form is to apply for a new birth registration which will replace the original birth registration certificate:
Application form to re-register a child (pdf 54kb)
Without baptism
Once again this can be done at any time after the birth by completing the re registration form, as long as it can be proved that the change of name took place within 12 months of the date that you registered the birth. You will need to provide evidence of the name the child has been using in the form of the child’s clinical card, National Health Service Medical card or bank account along with the original birth certificate
Once the form has been completed the new first name(s) will be inserted into the birth register. Copies of the amended registration can then be purchased. A full copy certificate will contain both the original name and the new name.
Application form to re-register a child (pdf 54kb)