What You Can Change Your Name To

You can change your name to almost anything. There are some rules about what names are allowed.

The Rules

Your new name cannot:

  • Include numbers or symbols (except hyphens and apostrophes)
  • Impersonate someone or mislead others
  • Contain offensive or vulgar words
  • Be excessively long

Numbers and Symbols

Examples of what's not allowed:

Numbers: John Smith 2, Sarah-3 Jones

Symbols: John @ Smith, Sarah $ Jones

Currency symbols: £, $, €

What you can use:

  • Hyphens: Mary-Jane, Smith-Jones
  • Apostrophes: O'Brien, D'Angelo
  • Spaces between names



Most official databases cannot process numbers and symbols in name fields.

Impersonation and Misleading Names

You cannot change your name to impersonate or mislead others.


This includes:

  • Names of celebrities or public figures (if used to deceive)
  • Titles you have not earned: Lord, Sir, Doctor, Professor
  • Brand names or company names
  • Names identical to well-known people


The restriction is about deception and impersonation, not simply using the same name as someone famous.

Offensive Language

Your name cannot contain:

  • Swear words or profanity
  • Racist or discriminatory terms
  • Sexually explicit words
  • Language intended to shock or offend


Government departments can refuse to issue documents with offensive names.

Name Length

There is no specific legal limit on how long your name can be. However, very long names can cause practical problems.


Your passport and driving licence have a limit of 30 characters for forenames and 30 characters for surnames. If your name is longer, it may be shortened on these documents.



This can cause problems when verifying your identity if your name appears differently on different documents.

Titles

You cannot include titles as part of your legal name.


Your title is separate from your legal name, and cannot be changed with a deed poll.



Social titles (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Mx) and honorific titles (Dr, Professor, Lord, Lady, Sir, Dame) are forms of address, not legal names.

Single Names

You must have at least a forename and a surname. You cannot use only one name.


UK Government systems require both a given name and family name.

What You Can Change

You can change any part of your name. You can change just one part, such as your first name, middle name or surname, or you can change multiple parts at once.


Common changes include adding or removing middle names, taking a hyphenated surname, reverting to a previous surname, or changing how your name is spelled.

Names from Other Cultures

You can adopt names from any language or culture. You can also change how your name is spelled.


This includes:

  • Names from your cultural heritage
  • Different spellings of traditional names
  • Anglicised versions of names from other languages


Your name must still follow the general rules about numbers, symbols and offensive language.

Fraudulent Intent

You cannot change your name to:

  • Avoid debts or legal obligations
  • Evade law enforcement
  • Commit fraud or identity theft
  • Interfere with legal proceedings



You can change your name if you have debts or a criminal record. However, you must inform your creditors and, in some cases, notify the police.

Choosing Your New Name

If you are unsure whether your name will be accepted:

  • Keep it simple and practical
  • Avoid anything offensive or misleading
  • Think about how it will appear on official documents
  • Check it meets the basic requirements



Most straightforward name changes are accepted without issues.

Ready to change your name?

Whether you are changing your forename, surname or middle name, a deed poll makes it official.



Apply online with Deedly and receive your deed poll within days.