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

What You Can Change Your Name To in Northern Ireland

The Rules

Your new name cannot:

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

Beyond these rules, the choice is yours. Very long names are allowed but can cause practical problems, explained below.

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

The restriction is about deception. Sharing a name with someone famous is allowed if there's no intent to impersonate them.

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 legal limit on how long your name can be. Very long names cause practical problems instead.

Your passport and driving licence allow 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 verifying your identity, because your name will appear differently on different documents.

Titles

You cannot include a title as part of your legal name.



Social titles (Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms, Mx) and honorific titles (Dr, Professor, Lord, Lady, Sir, Dame) are forms of address, not names. A deed poll cannot grant or change them.

Single Names

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



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

What You Can Change

You can change any part of your name. You can change just your first name, middle name or surname, or change several 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 Languages and Cultures

You can adopt a name from any language or culture, and you can change how your name is spelled.



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

Choosing Your New Name

Most name changes are accepted without issues. If you're unsure about yours:

• Keep it simple and practical
• Avoid anything offensive or misleading
• Think about how it will appear on official documents
  

Ready to Change Your Name?

Whether you're changing your first name, middle name or surname, a deed poll makes it official.

Apply online and receive your deed poll by post within days. Each document is drafted to Northern Irish requirements, printed on parchment paper and embossed with a seal.

Once signed and witnessed, it is legally binding and guaranteed to be accepted in Northern Ireland and throughout the UK.