Technically, there are no restrictions on what you may call yourself. However, you may find that other organisations won't issue records in your chosen name. As a rule of thumb, if the Passport Office will issue you with a new passport, other government organisations should accept the change.
Since your change of name only becomes legal when you change the majority of your documents to your new name, in practice, your new name is restricted by what other, particularly government, organisations will accept.
Very generally, to avoid problems, your new name:
- must be practical for use by other people and organisations;
- must not be insulting or offensive; and
- shouldn't mislead or infringe copyright.
Before changing your name by deed poll, consider what the impact of your new name will be. A fun name may reflect your attitude to life, but may make it more difficult to deal with other people and organisations. Employers may be reluctant to employ people with fun names, and if you are self employed, clients may be reluctant to hire you. Some organisations may be reluctant to let you associate with them if your name could affect their brand image.
More specifically, your name:
- must include a forename and a surname;
- A single letter for either your forename or last name is possible, but may cause problems in use: for example, many computer systems cannot record a single letter. You don't have to have a middle name;
- be pronounceable;
- Of course, some combinations of consonants are pronounceable in other cultures. The surname 'Ng' is a good example;
- must not contain numbers or symbols;
- Characters in the extended Latin alphabet such as letters with umlauts, cedillas and accents are fine. Not all systems can accept modified characters, so you should be prepared to drop these on some documents;
- not include punctuation, except hyphens and apostrophes as in 'John-Jack O'Brien' or 'John Jones-Smith';
- should not be obviously offensive or insulting; and
- cannot be misleading.
You can't change your name in order to mislead someone, for example, to avoid repaying debts. Nor can you pretend to be someone else (called passing off). It's fine to name yourself after an actor or pop star (or even a friend or ex-spouse) provided you don't attempt to deceive others that you are the person after whom you named yourself (or connected to that person).
Titles
There is no formal procedure to change your title. If you want to change your title only, you can do so without using a deed poll. Simply adopt the new title and notify all the relevant record holders. Many organisations will want to see documentary evidence of entitlement to use academic, noble or religious titles.
If you are changing your name, you can change your title at the same time on the deed poll document. The title shouldn't be part of your name, and instead it should be specified in a distinct paragraph.
Common (social) titles
Regardless of your sex, you can use any normal title you wish. You can be an unmarried 'Mrs', an elderly 'Master', or a very young 'Ms'. You can also be a female 'Mr' and a male 'Miss'. Read more about titles and genders when changing your name.
Military and academic titles
You can also choose any academic or military title you wish, provided that your use isn't in order to deceive someone about your qualifications. Since most people use academic titles in order to convey their qualifications, it is difficult to justify that use is for any other reason.
Titles of nobility
Titles of nobility or honour, such as 'Sir', 'Lord', 'Dame' can only be granted by the King and can only be used in accordance with traditional usage. You cannot buy titles of nobility despite the best marketing efforts of companies selling them.
Religious titles
Religious titles can be used (such as 'Reverend') providing that you do not use it to deceive. Titles for recognised religions present few problems.
Further information and useful documents
We provide a deed poll template that allows you to change your name without involving any third party solicitors or companies for free.
FAQs
Me, myself, or I.
When can you call yourself an expert at something? ›
More knowledge than others - Dictionary.com says that an expert is someone “a person who has special skill or knowledge in some particular field.” If you have more knowledge in a subject than most other people, you might qualify as an expert in that field.
What happens if I call myself? ›
If you call yourself, should you pick up? It may sound like an existential question, but if you receive a call from your own phone number, it's not future you on the other end. It's probably a scammer, and you shouldn't answer.
When I call myself, it asks for a password.? ›
If no one else is having a problem, this is most likely your voicemail box. The voicemail box is requesting your passcode to allow you into the voicemail.
What does it mean to call yourself? ›
call oneself v phr chiefly Sth, SMidl. Foll by pres pple: To claim or consider oneself to be (doing something)—in interrogative contexts often with the implication that the claim or belief is mistaken.
At what point can you call yourself a specialist? ›
When someone gets expertise in a field and gets higher qualification in that field we call him a specialist. People who have acquired a mastery over their Skills over a period of time and experience can work out a Design, Plan their work and execute the same in a record time to get the desired results.
When can you call yourself a professional? ›
That does beg the question: What does it mean to call yourself professional? The simple definition of the word means “relating to or belonging to a profession”. Therefore, the majority of those in the working world could state that they are professional, even when their actions prove that they are not.
What is a more humble word for expert? ›
Some common synonyms of expert are adept, proficient, skilled, and skillful. While all these words mean "having great knowledge and experience in a trade or profession," expert implies extraordinary proficiency and often connotes knowledge as well as technical skill.
Why does it say I called myself? ›
Scam artists now use technology to make a person's caller ID show their own name and phone number-making it appear as though a person is calling him or herself.
Why do I call myself names? ›
When frustrated, overwhelmed, or stressed it's easy to resort to name calling, especially with ourselves. This tendency is a common cognitive distortion known as labeling and, if left unchecked, can become a habit with corrosive effects on our relationship with ourselves.
If you get calls from people saying your number is showing up as their caller ID, it's likely that your number has been maliciously spoofed. If you believe your number has been spoofed by a scammer, you should contact your telco immediately.
What is password anxiety? ›
Password fatigue is the overwhelming feeling of stress and exhaustion resulting from the excessive number of passwords users are required to maintain for their various accounts. As the list of complex and diverse passwords increases, so does the confusion and inability to remember them.
Is it illegal to ask for a password? ›
California. Employers may not ask or require employees or applicants to disclosure user names or passwords to social media accounts, to access their social media accounts in the presence of the employer, or to disclose the contents of their social media accounts.
How do you call your own phone? ›
For Android Phones:
- Open the Phone app.
- Locate and tap on the dialer or keypad icon.
- Enter your own phone number, including the area code.
- Press the call button.
Write down any names that appeal to you. Peruse a list of thousands of possible names, and wait for something to stand out. If you care about the meaning and etymology of your name, make sure to read the origin of each name. Name yourself after something you find beautiful or symbolic.
What title can I call myself? ›
What you can and can't call yourself. Technically, there are no restrictions on what you may call yourself. However, you may find that other organisations won't issue records in your chosen name.
What is the best version of yourself called? ›
At the top of the pyramid is self-actualization, which occurs when we maximize our potential by becoming the "best version of ourselves".
How do I choose the right name for me? ›
Brainstorm possible names
There's no singularly correct way to choose a name, so feel free to draw inspiration from whatever resonates with you. Popular options include celebrities, fictional characters, family members, flora and fauna. Of course, not all trans people change their names when they transition.
