Your Rights

Changing Your Name

In New Zealand, the birth of a child and the child’s name must be reported to Births, Deaths and Marriages, a government department which keeps information on births, deaths, marriages, civil unions and name changes. Other countries have their own laws about how the birth of a child is reported, and how a child is named.

Even if a person was not born in New Zealand, if they are a New Zealand citizen or are allowed to stay here for an unlimited time, their name can be changed officially and unofficially.

When do I need to register the birth of my child and name my child by?

A child’s birth needs to be reported to Births, Deaths and Marriages (“BDM”) by their parents or guardians “as soon as is reasonably practicable after the birth”. This usually means within two months of the birth. The parents/guardians are normally given a Notification of Birth for Registration Form. A child’s birth can also be registered online.

Once a child’s birth has been registered, BDM will issue a birth certificate with the child’s full name. This is the child’s official name. Even after the birth certificate is issued, the parents/guardians can add, drop, or change the names that appear on the birth certificate until the child turns two.

Can I give my child any name or change my name to anything?

Parents/guardians can call their child, and New Zealanders can call themselves, whatever name they want to. However, Births, Deaths and Marriages (“BDM”) might refuse to accept a name if it is too long, if it might reasonably cause offence, or if it resembles a title without good reason. People must use the Latin alphabet, and cannot use numbers or symbols.

Some names which have been rejected in the past include Prince, Judge, Christ, and 4real. If a person’s chosen name is not allowed, they can appeal the decision in the Family Court. If you are considering doing this, you might like to get advice from a lawyer first, because an appeal takes time, costs lots of money, and might not succeed.

Can I be called something different to my official name?

People do not have to call themselves the exact name that is on their birth certificate. For example, a lot of actors and singers choose a different “professional” name for themselves, like Bruno Mars and Katy Perry. It is not illegal to call yourself something different, even if your parents or guardians do not like the name you choose.

If you choose a different name, you can tell your friends and family and ask them to respect your choice. By doing this, you have changed your name unofficially.

Can I use an unofficial name for official documents?

While you can change your name unofficially, you must keep using your official name for official things like bank accounts, getting a driver licence, WINZ, and applications for visas and passports. Otherwise, you could have problems and delays getting things sorted.

Can I change my name officially?

If you are under 18 years old and not married, you cannot apply to change your name yourself. You need to get consent from your parents/guardians, and they will need to fill out the form to request your name change. If your parents do not want you to change your name, you will have to wait until you are 18 years old, when you can change your name without anyone’s permission. If you are married, in a civil union, or in a legal de facto relationship, you can change your name without your parents’ permission, even if you are under 18 years old.

I’m under the guardianship of the Court or OT, can I change my name officially?

If you are under the guardianship of the Court or the Ministry for Children Oranga Tamariki, your social worker can arrange to fill out the form requesting a name change and may be able to help you with officially changing your name.

What documents do I need to sign to change my name officially?

You can find the correct application form to use on the Births, Deaths and Marriages website. The form for requesting a name change is a statutory declaration. This means that when you and your parents or guardians sign the form, you are declaring that the information you have written down is true and correct and must be signed before a registrar, justice of the peace or a lawyer. You will also be required to pay BDM a fee.

If I’m a woman, do I need to officially change my name after I get married?

Getting married to your partner or living with them does not affect your freedom to have the name of your choice. Some women choose to take their husband’s surname after getting married, but there is no legal requirement to change your surname after getting married.

If you change your surname after marriage, you can change it back at any time. If you are separated or divorced from your husband, you can still continue to use his surname. A man can also choose to change or not change his surname after getting married.

I’m recently married and want to use my spouse’s last name. Do I have to change my name legally?

When you get married, you don’t have to change your name by filling out forms. You can use your spouse’s last name straight away.