Name Changes

Recording a change of name

Anyone who was born or legally adopted in Northern Ireland can change their first name or surname. There are a few ways to do this. You can record a change of name with the General Register Office for Northern Ireland (GRONI), re-register a birth or change your name by deed poll.

GRONI's office is now located at Colby House, off Stranmillis Road in Belfast. 

Changing your child's birth registration

If your child's birth was registered without the father's details or before you and your partner were married, you may want to re-register the birth to update the registration and change the child's name or surname.

You can find out more about re-registering a birth here: Registering and naming your baby (link)

Changing your name if you're under 18

If you are under 18 years old, or a parent of a child under 18, and you want to record a change of name, you'll need to complete an application form. The form must be signed by a qualified applicant(s), this is usually the parent(s) or guardian of the child.

Here's a list of qualified applicants, who can apply for a change of name:  

• both parents if they were married to, or in a civil partnership with, each other
• both parents where they are not married to, or in a civil partnership with, each other but the father/second female parent has parental responsibility for the child
• the mother where the parents are not married to, or in a civil partnership with each other at the time of the child's birth and the father/second female parent does not have parental responsibility for the child
• the surviving parent if either of the parents of the child is deceased and the surviving parent has parental responsibility for the child
• the guardian of the child or any other person who has parental responsibility for the child if both the parents are deceased or either of the parents are deceased and the surviving parent does not have parental responsibility for the child

You can only change your name(s) or surname once when you're under 18.

Change of name Application Form for anyone under 18

Your application form must be signed by the qualified applicant(s) in front of one of the following:

• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• lay magistrate
• practicing solicitor

If there are two qualified applicants, both signatures must be witnessed.

You'll need to send or bring your completed forms along with the correct fee and a certified copy of the child's birth certificate to the General Register Office for Northern Ireland: General Register Office for Northern Ireland

Changing your name if you're 18 or over

If you're 18 or over you can apply for a change of name(s) or surname by completing this application form: Change of name Application Form for anyone 18 or over

You'll need to sign the form in front of one of the following:

• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• lay magistrate
• practicing solicitor

If you're 18 or over, you can change your name once and your surname up to three times. But there must be a gap of five years between each change of surname.

You'll need to send or bring your completed forms along with the correct fee and a certified copy of your birth certificate to the General Register Office for Northern Ireland: General Register Office for Northern Ireland

Fees

These fees are for recording the change only. If you need a certificate showing the recorded change, you will need to pay an extra £15.00.

If you are paying by cheque or postal order you should make it payable to 'The Registrar General'.

• Order a birth certificate

Finding a Justice of the Peace (JP) or lay magistrate

Justices of the Peace and Lay Magistrates will not ask you to pay anything for witnessing your application form. You can find a JP or lay magistrate in your area by contacting the Judicial & Customer Services Group: Judicial & Customer Services Group  [BROKEN LINK/PAGE NOT FOUND]

Change your name by deed poll

You can also change your name by deed poll. This is a legal document that you can use to prove that you have changed your name.

Find out more on the GOV.UK website: Change your name by deed poll - GOV.UK website