The parents were married, but separated after the wife became pregnant. Both the father and mother registered the birth, but under different first names. The father was first, and the mother’s registration was cancelled. None of the authorities about surname disputes applied to a child’s first name. The surname by which a child was registered and known was of particular significance, but it is commonplace for given names to vary, as by baptism.
Held: The mother should be allowed to use her chosen names for her daughter for certain external purposes, but she must recognise that the child had an immutable series of names by statutory registration. The judges order restraining her was overturned.
Judges:
Lord Justice Thorpe and Lord Justice Buxton
Citations:
Times 06-Feb-2002, Gazette 14-Mar-2002
Statutes:
Jurisdiction:
England and Wales
Children
Updated: 28 April 2022; Ref: scu.167567