The fundamental is that, as an adult, and in general, you are free to choose to use whatever name you want. The single effective restriction is that this may not be done to achieve a fraudulent purpose. After that, the field is more or less free (see below).

A: In general, you can just change your name. Just decide on, and start using the new name. In strict law that is all that is necessary. No formality is necessary. That said … people often choose to obtain a deed which will provide evidence of that change of name.

If you are changing your name now, we can prepare a deed for this purpose. If you are marking the change after it has been in effect for some time, the better way is to use a statutory declaration. Again, we can prepare one.

Thesituations vary so much, that it is difficult to generalise. It is always worth asking.

A: I theory a Christian name, one given to you by God on being christened, can not be taken away. This goes back to the peculiar place of the Christian church in our constitution. The law acepts that in this one field it takes second place. Otherwise, you are free to change a first name just as much as any other.

In practice, also, nobody particularly objects to changing a Christian name.

Unfortunately as time goes by it makes less and less sense to change your name. In these days of terrorist suspicion, a change of name is an invitation to, if not outright suspicion, ten a grudging suspension of belief. As ID cards come in, changing a name will become more and more expensive and troublesome.