What Names Are Not Legal in the UK? (The Banned List)
A common myth is that you can change your name to absolutely anything in the UK. While the law is very liberal compared to countries like France or New Zealand, there are still strict limits.
Technically, no name is "illegal" to say out loud. However, HM Passport Office (HMPO) has a strict policy on unacceptable names. If your chosen name falls into one of their banned categories, they will refuse to issue you a passport, effectively making your new name unusable for official purposes.
Before you apply for a Deed Poll, make sure your new name isn't on the restricted list below.
1. Names That Are Offensive or Vulgar
The Passport Office will reject any name that may cause "public outrage" or offence. This is a broad category designed to stop people from having names that are genuinely shocking on official documents.
Banned examples include:
- Swear words or sexually explicit language.
- Racial, religious, or homophobic slurs.
- Names that promote illegal acts like drug use or violence.
2. Misleading Titles (e.g., "Lord" or "Doctor")
You cannot use a Deed Poll to give yourself a title you haven't earned or inherited. This is considered fraudulent and misleading.
You cannot change your name to include:
- Titles of Nobility: Lord, Lady, Baron, Duke, Prince, Princess, King, Queen.
- Professional Titles: Doctor (Dr), Professor, Judge, Sir, Dame.
- Military Ranks: General, Captain, Major.
Note: You can buy "manorial titles" online, but these are for novelty purposes. The Passport Office will generally not allow you to put "Lord" on your passport unless you are a genuine member of the peerage.
3. Names Containing Numbers or Symbols
Your name must consist of letters from the Latin alphabet (A-Z). The Passport Office's computer systems cannot handle standard numbers or symbols.
Banned examples include:
- Numbers: "R2-D2", "Seven", "1066".
- Symbols: "Ke$ha", "Prince!", "@na".
Exceptions:
The only symbols allowed are the hyphen (-) for double-barrelled names (e.g., Smith-Jones) and the apostrophe (') for names like O'Connell or D'Angelo.
4. Unpronounceable or Excessive Names
A name needs to be a usable identifier. If it is impossible to say or too long to fit on a document, it may be rejected.
- Unpronounceable: A random string of consonants (e.g., "Jkmnsz") is likely to be refused.
- Too Long: A UK passport allows for 30 characters for forenames and 30 for surnames. If your name is longer than this, you may have to abbreviate it on the passport itself.
Summary: The "Common Sense" Rule
The general rule of thumb is: if a reasonable person would find the name offensive, confusing, or ridiculous, the Passport Office will probably reject it.
If you stick to standard names, even unique ones, you will have no problem. The restrictions are there to stop extreme cases.
We Check Your Name Before You Buy
Don't risk a rejected passport application. When you apply with us, our team manually reviews your proposed new name. If it violates UK government rules, we will contact you to advise before issuing your Deed Poll.
