• Flexibility in full name change of a minor

In India, is it possible to change the middle name and last name of your minor child specifically for personal preferences? 

Typically, the naming convention involves the first name, followed by father's first name as the middle name followed by the last name/surname.

But is it necessary? Am I legally allowed to change my minor child's middle name along with the last name or is there a provision against such a name change of minor child?
From the information I've come across on the internet, the middle name does not necessarily have to be the father's first name and it can be changed. Does it apply in India as well?

Does the minor child's full name compulsorily need the father's first name as the middle name and the same surname or can it be changed?
Asked 8 months ago in Civil Law

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7 Answers

It is not necessary father name be reflected in the middle name of minor 

 

it is not necessary that surname be same 

 

3) 

SPECIMEN FOR CHANGE OF NAME FOR MINOR

No. ADVT./IV/

I hitherto known as ………………………………………... Son

of ………………………………………………………………Employed

as …………………………………………………………………….…in

the ………………………………………………………………… residing

at……………………………………………….……………………… have

changed the name of my minor

son/daughter……………………………….aged………………….years

and he/she shall hereafter be known as ……………………………..

It is certified that I have complied with other legal requirements in

this connection.

Signature of Guardian


Change of name should be notified on official gazette and 2 local newspapers 

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
97420 Answers
7872 Consultations

There is no restriction in law for an individual to change his name or  his or her minor child's name in the manner he or she would like the child to be known.

The name change procedure of preparing an affidavit, get it notarised, get the public notice published in a local newspaper and get it published in the government gazette publication, which will be sufficient for the procedures to be adopted.

There is no hard and fast rules that anyone's name has to be prefixed or suffixed by the family name or there is no mandatory requirement in law to have a middle name and last name suffixed to the original name

T Kalaiselvan
Advocate, Vellore
87617 Answers
2352 Consultations

Dear client, there is no rule or regulation to use fathers firstname or surname to be used in child's name. Parents can choose any surname for their child, including a combination of the mother's and father's names. You can also choose not to put a surname on the child's birth certificate. You can choose whatever name you like for your child and change it accordingly by following due procedure.

Anik Miu
Advocate, Bangalore
10350 Answers
121 Consultations

- There is no fixed law for naming the child and it depend upon the natural guardian 

- However, if you wanted to change /correct the name , then you can execute an Affidavit after mentioning that he will known with his changed name for all purposes.

- Further, you should publish the same in two leading newspaper of your area.

- Further, if the child is already admitted in school or a birth certificate has been issued with the old name , then you should publish the said affidavit in the official Gazette, and submit the same before the birth registrar . 

Mohammed Shahzad
Advocate, Delhi
14727 Answers
224 Consultations

Not with consent of both parents 

Prashant Nayak
Advocate, Mumbai
32801 Answers
209 Consultations

You can name your minor child or change his/her as you please. Provided if you are changing names,  you get the new name in records There is no restrictions whatsoever, as to the name one chooses 

 

Netra Mohanchandra Pant
Advocate, Navi Mumbai
1586 Answers
5 Consultations

I don't think there is any such compulsion 

There are provisions under the act (Births and Deaths Registration act, pardon me as I don't recollect the exact name of that act) under which the name can be changed or modified or rectified 

Yusuf Rampurawala
Advocate, Mumbai
7741 Answers
79 Consultations

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