Names you cannot use

When you change your name with a deed poll in Northern Ireland, you can choose almost any name. There are only a few things your new name cannot include.

The rules

Your new name cannot:

• include numbers or symbols, other than hyphens and apostrophes
• be offensive
• suggest a title you are not entitled to, such as Lord or Doctor
• be used to impersonate someone or mislead people

You must also have at least a first name and a surname.

Numbers and symbols

You cannot use numbers or symbols in your name. For example, you cannot change your name to John Smith 2 or Sarah $ Jones.

You can use:

• hyphens, such as Mary-Jane or Smith-Jones
• apostrophes, such as O'Brien
• spaces between names

Offensive names

Your new name cannot include swear words, discriminatory terms or sexually explicit words. Government departments can refuse to issue documents in an offensive name.

Titles

Titles are not part of your legal name, so you cannot include one in your new name.

You can choose your own social title, such as Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms or Mx. You do not need a deed poll to change it. Most organisations will update your title when you ask.

Other titles have to be earned or given to you. For example, Doctor and Professor come with a qualification or role, and titles such as Lord, Sir and Dame are granted by the Crown. A deed poll cannot give you one of these titles.

Impersonating someone

You cannot change your name to impersonate someone or to mislead people. This includes using a company or brand name.

You can share a name with someone famous, as long as you are not using it to pretend to be them.

First names and surnames

You must have at least one first name and a surname. You cannot have a single name.

Long names

There is no legal limit on how long your name can be.

Your passport and driving licence have space for around 30 characters for your first and middle names, and 30 for your surname. If your name is longer, it may be shortened on these documents. This can cause problems when you need to prove your identity.

What you can change

You can change your first name, middle names or surname, or all of them. You can also add or remove names, or change the spelling of your name.

You can choose a name from any language or culture, as long as it follows the rules on this page.

Apply for a deed poll

It costs £25 to apply for a deed poll with the NI Deed Poll Office. You can pay by debit or credit card.