Changing a babys name

[douggym]

My friend has recently split from an ex-boyfriend who forced her into giving their baby a name he chose. She now wants to change the babys name as the name is not suitable. What is the easiest way to do this without involving the father?

[bednobs]

first name or surname?

[woofgang]

Assuming we are talking given name, the easiest way is just to start calling the baby something different. The absolute easiest way if she can bear it is to add the name to her existing name and call her by it. I had a friend at school whose first given name was that of her father's favourite sports car. Everyone, even her father called her by her second given name. She doesn't have to do anything official at all.

[FoxLee2]

If you want to make it official, you can get a new birth certificate up to a baby being a year old. The only thing about not making it official is that legal documents e.g. passport will have to be in the same name as on the birth certificate.

[Whoever]

There are instances where a name can be changed by Deed Poll but in this case it might depend on whether the father has any legal rights, i.e. was named on the Birth Certificate.

[mikey4444]

What a pity your friend didn't think about things like this before she got pregnant by someone she now doesn't like. Perhaps she can use a turkey baster next time and not bother with a father at all !