How to Change an Infant's Name
What happens when you name your beautiful newborn daughter Alice in the hospital, but when you get home you realize she definitely is a Sienna? A Baby Center survey showed that at least 5 percent of parents wished they could change their child's name.The most common reason was that the name had become too popular, but others wanted to switch because the name was too hard to pronounce or didn't suit the child's personality. Some even cited family feuds. Whatever the reason, remember that babies start recognizing their names around five months of age, so the sooner you change their name, the better!
Things You'll Need
- Birth certificate
- State's official name change order
- State-based fee
Instructions
Change Your Baby's Name
If you are still at or have just left the hospital, you might be able to run back and re-sign the birth certificate with the new name--try this option if very little time has passed. Just call your child by another name. This is the simplest option and avoids any legal hassles. It works great if you're going from Jolynn to Jo, for instance, but it's a little harder if you want to jump from John to Christopher, since all of the child's legal documents will have his or her first name. Call a lawyer and change it officially. Every state has its own procedure for name changes. Contact an attorney or go to your local courthouse to find out your state's requirements. As a rule, you'll need to complete a petition for name change form and get a court order that approves the new name. You'll have to pay a fee (most states offer waivers if you can't afford it) and the process may take several months. Make copies of all the forms you complete and submit. Notify Social Security and change official documents. After your baby's name change is approved, contact your local Social Security office to change his Social Security card. Also contact your state's Department of Health to update the birth certificate. Be sure to change all legal documents that pertain to your child.
