Change a birth certificate to add to or amend a child’s first names
If you have decided to use different first names for your child, and the birth was registered in the last twelve months, you can amend the birth certificate using this process.
Please note: the surname of the child cannot be changed by this method, and names given after twelve months of registration cannot be added or changed by this method.
1. Email registrars@islington.gov.uk and we will post the form to you.
Please note: we can only accept applications for births that occurred in the borough of Islington or the City of London (this refers to the area in London known as the Square Mile and not London as an entire city, please view a map to check. If the birth occurred elsewhere, you will need to make an application to the local register office.
2. We will ask you to pay a fee of £40.00. This fee is set by central government and is for consideration of the application. It does not guarantee the application will be successful.
3. Once the application has been considered and it has been decided that the change can be made, you will be able to purchase corrected certificates at a fee of £10. The consideration process takes one working week.
The original information will always be shown in the register. After the change has been authorised, a note will be added to in space 17 of the birth entry with the new name. This will explain what the correct information is and when the correction was made.
Please visit the General Register Office website for more details about changing your child’s forename.