How To Change Your Baby's Name Once It's On The Birth Certificate

What do Kylie Jenner, Elon Musk, and Amy Schumer all have in common? These celebrity parents have all changed their baby's names after they were born! The Kylie Cosmetics founder decided she didn't like the name Wolf for her son (a case of baby name regret), and she changed it to Aire. Schumer accidentally gave her son, Gene, a middle name that sounded inappropriate, so she changed it from "Attell" to "David." And Musk had to change his son's name from "X Æ A-12" to a first name of "X" and a middle name, "AE A-XII," due to California law prohibiting certain symbols on the birth certificate. 

There are many reasons to want to change your baby's name, and luckily, it's possible for regular (aka, non-famous) parents to change their baby's name on their birth certificate as well. No matter the reason, the length of time, whether you want to fix a spelling mistake, or completely change the name, you will have to contact the local Vital Records Office of the state where your baby was born to make any changes. Just be aware: there may be different regulations and guidelines depending on your state of residence, and there may be a fee involved.

Most states allow 5 to 10 days after your baby is born to complete the birth certificate application and register their birth. So, if you change your mind while still in the hospital, it's no big deal. If you need more time, you can register your child's birth (which is mandatory in the US) and leave the name field blank. Most states make it easy to update this no-name birth certificate with your child's official name before they turn 12 months old. 

Parents can request to correct a spelling or update a no-name to an official name through their local Vital Records Office. In Texas, for example, no documentation is needed to change "Cindie" to "Cindy" or "no name" to "Jameson" within the first year. If your child is 12 months or older, however, you will need one form of approved documentation to make these name changes, which could be as simple as a letter from the hospital. 

If you want to completely change your baby's first, middle, or last name to something else, like from "Wolf" to "Aire," for example, you must have a certified copy of a court order with a judge's signature, no matter if your child is under 1 year old or not. This could change depending on your state, although most states will require a court order to change the name on your baby's birth certificate. Some states have additional requirements, like in Georgia, where you have to publish the proposed name change in the newspaper. You may also have to have an official court hearing about the name change.