Yes-you can legally change your child’s name in the UK. A child’s first name, surname, or both can be changed by deed poll, and the document is accepted by schools, the NHS, HM Passport Office and the DVLA. The only real condition is consent: for a child under 16, everyone with parental responsibility must agree, while a young person aged 16 or 17 can change their own name themselves. This guide gives parents the complete overview - what’s possible, who needs to sign, and how to get it done properly.
What you can actually change
Parents sometimes assume a name change is all-or-nothing. It isn’t. You can change as much or as little of your child’s name as you need:
- First name (forename) - for example, switching to a preferred name a child already goes by, or correcting a name that no longer fits.
- Surname - the most common reason parents apply, often after a divorce, separation, remarriage or to reflect a step-parent’s family. This can include creating a double-barrelled surname.
- Middle names - adding, removing or changing them.
- The whole name - first, middle and surname together.
One thing you don’t need a deed poll for is a title. Mr, Miss, Master and so on are not legally part of anyone’s name, so they never require any paperwork to use or drop.
The age rule that decides everything
Who is allowed to authorise the change depends entirely on the child’s age. This is the single most important thing for parents to get right.
Children under 16
A child under 16 cannot change their own name. The change must be made on their behalf by a parent or guardian, with the written consent of everyone who holds parental responsibility. The child’s own wishes still matter - the deed poll asks for the agreement of a ‘Gillick competent’ child (broadly, one mature enough to understand the decision) - but legally the responsible adults are the ones who sign.
Young people aged 16 and 17
Once a child turns 16, the law treats them differently. A 16- or 17-year-old can change their own name and sign their own deed poll, in the same way an adult does. Parental consent is not legally required, although in practice many families do it together. If your child is in this age bracket, the specifics are covered in our dedicated guide to a deed poll for a child over 16 in the UK.
Who has parental responsibility - and why it matters
For an under-16, ‘consent of everyone with parental responsibility’ is the rule that trips parents up most, so it’s worth being clear on who that includes:
- The child’s mother automatically has parental responsibility.
- The father has it if he was married to the mother when the child was born, or if he is named on the birth certificate (for births registered in England and Wales from December 2003 onwards).
- A second female parent, a step-parent or others may have it through a parental responsibility agreement, a court order, or adoption.
Crucially, parental responsibility does not disappear because parents have separated, divorced, or because one parent has no contact. An absent parent who still holds parental responsibility must still consent. If a parent has died, you don’t need their consent, but you may be asked to provide a copy of the death certificate. If everyone agrees, the process is quick and inexpensive. If one parent refuses, you cannot simply override them - you would need to apply to the court for a Specific Issue Order. The differences between agreed changes and contested ones are explored in our comparison of how to change a child’s surname legally in the UK.
How the deed poll works in practice
A deed poll is simply a legal document that records the name change and your declaration to use the new name from now on. For a child, the deed is signed by the consenting adults rather than the child. The process is straightforward:
- Confirm consent. Make sure everyone with parental responsibility agrees and is willing to sign.
- Complete the deed poll with the child’s current name and chosen new name.
- Sign and witness it. The deed must be signed in wet ink in front of an independent adult witness aged 18 or over - not a relative, partner, or anyone living at your address.
- Update the records. Use the signed deed poll to update the child’s passport, school, GP, NHS records, and so on.
You order a professionally drafted, printed document through our child deed poll service, which sets out the wording correctly so organisations accept it without quibble.
Enrolled or unenrolled - which does a child need?
This is the same choice adults face. An unenrolled deed poll is the standard, and it’s legally valid and accepted by HM Passport Office, the DVLA, the NHS, banks and schools. Around 98% of UK name changes are unenrolled. An enrolled deed poll means paying £53.05 to register the change at the Royal Courts of Justice, which publishes it publicly in the London Gazette and takes 2-3 weeks. Enrolment adds no extra legal validity - for the vast majority of families it’s an unnecessary cost. For most children, the unenrolled route is all you need.
What it costs
A professionally printed unenrolled deed poll from UK Name Change starts at £14.49, with same-day dispatch if you order before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. A solicitor would charge £150-£300+ for the very same document, which is rarely worth it. Updating most records afterwards is free - the DVLA, HMRC, the NHS, banks and schools don’t charge. A new child passport in the updated name is paid separately at the standard Passport Office fee (currently £102 online).
If you also want to change your own name to match your child’s - common after a separation or remarriage - you can order an adult deed poll at the same time and keep the whole family’s documents consistent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my child’s surname without the father’s consent?
Not if the father has parental responsibility. In that case his written consent is required for a child under 16. If he refuses, your only route is to apply to the court for a Specific Issue Order, where a judge decides based on the child’s best interests. If the father does not have parental responsibility, his consent is not legally needed, though courts can still take his views into account.
At what age can a child change their own name in the UK?
At 16. From their sixteenth birthday, a young person can apply for and sign their own deed poll without parental consent. Below 16, the change must be made by those with parental responsibility on the child’s behalf.
Do both parents have to sign the deed poll?
Everyone with parental responsibility must consent for an under-16. That usually means both parents, but it can be more or fewer people depending on who legally holds parental responsibility. A parent without parental responsibility does not need to sign.
Can I give my child a double-barrelled surname?
Yes. Combining both parents’ surnames into a double-barrelled name is perfectly legal and very common, particularly where both parents want to remain part of the child’s identity. The same consent rules apply.
Is an unenrolled deed poll enough to change a child’s passport?
Yes. HM Passport Office accepts an unenrolled deed poll. You must send the original wet-ink signed document, not a photocopy, and it should be signed by the appropriate adults with parental responsibility.
How long does the whole process take?
The deed poll itself is dispatched the same day if you order before 3pm. Once you have the signed document, updating records varies - most organisations process changes within a few days to a couple of weeks, with a new passport taking longer depending on the service you choose.
Ready to change your child’s name?
If everyone with parental responsibility agrees, there’s no need to wait or pay solicitor fees. Order a professionally printed, legally valid child deed poll from £14.49 with same-day dispatch and free tracked delivery - trusted by more than 160,000 customers across the UK.
