Almost anyone can change their name in the UK. There is no nationality or residency requirement, no minimum income, and no need to give a reason. The only real conditions are about age and consent: any adult can change their own name, anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll, and a child under 16 needs the consent of everyone who holds parental responsibility for them. A handful of specific groups - such as registered sex offenders and undischarged bankrupts - can still change their name but must notify the relevant authority. This guide is the full eligibility picture.
The general rule: freedom to choose your own name
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate under common law when it comes to names. In practice that means you have the right to be known by any name you choose, and to change it whenever you like, as long as the change is not for a fraudulent or otherwise unlawful purpose. You do not need a court’s permission, you do not need to explain yourself, and you do not need a solicitor.
A deed poll is simply the document that records your decision and provides the evidence that organisations - HM Passport Office, the DVLA, your bank, HMRC, the NHS, your employer - need to update their records. The deed poll does not grant you the right to change your name; that right already exists. It just proves you have exercised it. For the underlying legal mechanics, see our companion guide on whether you can change your name in the UK and the legal facts behind it.
Age: who can change their own name?
Adults and anyone aged 16 or 17
Anyone aged 16 or over can change their own name and sign their own deed poll without anyone else’s permission. This surprises some people, because 16- and 17-year-olds are still legally children for many purposes. But for name changes, 16 is the threshold at which you can act for yourself: you can change your forename, your middle names, your surname, or all of them at once.
That said, the situation for 16- and 17-year-olds has its own practical wrinkles - for example, how schools, exam boards and the Passport Office handle the change, and what happens when a parent disagrees. We cover that age group in detail in our dedicated guide to deed polls for a child over 16 in 2026.
Children under 16
A child under 16 cannot sign their own deed poll. Instead, an adult with parental responsibility applies on the child’s behalf - and this is the part people most often get wrong. Everyone who holds parental responsibility must consent to the change. If two parents share parental responsibility, both must agree and sign. The same applies to a guardian or anyone else granted parental responsibility by a court order.
If one parent will not consent, the name change cannot proceed without a court order resolving the disagreement (a Specific Issue Order). A deed poll provider cannot override a missing consent, and reputable providers will not pretend otherwise. Where an older child is involved, their own wishes are also taken into account, and once they reach 16 they can apply in their own right.
Nationality and residency: is there a bar?
No. There is no general nationality or residency requirement to change your name by deed poll in the UK. British citizens have an unrestricted right. Foreign nationals living in the UK - or who are simply here - can also execute a UK deed poll, and it will be accepted by UK bodies such as the Passport Office and the DVLA for updating UK documents.
The one caveat is purely practical and sits outside UK law: your country of citizenship may not recognise a UK deed poll for the purpose of changing your foreign passport or national records. Recognition varies enormously from one country to another. If you hold a non-UK passport and need that document updated too, check with your embassy or consulate before you start, so you know which evidence they require. None of this affects your eligibility to change your name in the UK - it only affects what other countries will do with it.
Groups who can change their name but must notify someone
Eligibility is not the same as being free of obligations. A few specific groups remain fully entitled to change their name, but the law requires them to tell a particular authority. Changing your name to evade these duties is itself an offence, so the duty travels with you.
- Registered sex offenders. Anyone subject to notification requirements (the Sex Offenders Register) must notify the police of a name change, normally within three days. The right to change the name remains; the notification is mandatory.
- People with criminal convictions or on licence/probation. A criminal record does not stop you changing your name. If you are on probation, parole or licence, you must inform your probation officer or supervising authority.
- Undischarged bankrupts. You may still change your name, but you must inform the Official Receiver or your trustee in bankruptcy so that the insolvency record stays accurate.
- People bound by certain court orders. If a court order restricts how you may identify yourself, you must comply with it.
For the vast majority of people, none of this applies - you simply change your name and update your documents.
What about mental capacity?
To change your name you need the mental capacity to understand the decision: that you are giving up your old name and adopting a new one for all purposes. This is a low bar that the overwhelming majority of adults meet without question. Where someone lacks that capacity, a change cannot simply be self-declared and may require involvement of the Court of Protection - a specialist situation outside the scope of an ordinary deed poll.
A quick note on titles
One common misconception about eligibility: people think they need permission or a deed poll to change a title such as Mr, Mrs, Ms, Mx or Dr. You don’t. A title is not legally part of your name, so changing it requires no deed poll and no eligibility test at all - you just ask organisations to update it. A deed poll is only for changing your actual forename(s) or surname.
Eligible? Here’s the straightforward next step
If you are 16 or over, the process is refreshingly simple. You order a professionally printed deed poll, sign it in wet ink in front of an independent adult witness (someone 18 or over who is not a relative, your partner, or anyone living at your address), and then use the original signed document to update your records. An unenrolled deed poll - the type around 98% of people use - is legally valid and accepted across the board, from £14.49, with same-day dispatch on orders placed before 3pm and free Royal Mail Tracked delivery. You can order your adult deed poll here and have it on its way the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reason to be eligible to change my name?
No. You do not have to give any reason and no one assesses your motive, provided the change is not for fraud or another unlawful purpose. Marriage, divorce, gender identity, religion, disliking your current name, or simple preference are all equally valid - and none of them needs explaining on the document.
Can a 16-year-old change their name without their parents’ permission?
Yes. Once you turn 16 you can change your own name and sign your own deed poll without parental consent. The consent rule only applies to children under 16. There are still some practical points for this age group, which we explain in our guide to name changes for a child over 16.
Can a foreign national living in the UK change their name here?
Yes. There is no nationality or residency bar to executing a UK deed poll, and UK organisations will accept it. Just be aware your home country may need separate steps to update your foreign passport, so check with your embassy if that applies to you.
Does a criminal record make me ineligible?
No. Having a criminal record does not prevent you from changing your name. However, certain people - such as registered sex offenders and those on probation or licence - have a legal duty to notify the relevant authority of the change.
Do both parents have to agree for a child under 16?
Yes. Everyone with parental responsibility must consent. If two parents both have parental responsibility, both must sign. Where one parent refuses, the change cannot go ahead without a court order resolving the dispute.
Do I need a solicitor to confirm I’m eligible?
No. There is no eligibility check that requires a solicitor, and a solicitor would typically charge £150-£300+ for the same document you can get for £14.49. The legal right is yours already - the deed poll simply records it.
Ready to change your name?
If you meet the eligibility rules above - and almost everyone does - there’s nothing standing between you and your new name. Get a legally valid, professionally printed deed poll from just £14.49, dispatched the same day when you order before 3pm. Start your adult deed poll now and update your documents with confidence.