is correct as regards changing ones name  As per the reference he supplied in the Republic of Ireland all that is necessary is that one begins using the new name and that it not be done for fraudulent purposes  Doing so is extremely common  how many thousands of women for example take their husbands surname on marriage without getting their name changed by deed poll  Changing ones name in this way is an entirely different thing from having ones Registration of Birth amended where specific statutes apply  From the GROs website Changes to the Register of Births are almost impossible to effect and generally are only done if it can be proved that a clerical or factual error was made at the time of registration  So one can change ones name in common usage from eg George to Jack but George would remain on the Register of Births unless you also changed it by deed poll  My understanding on the case of the transsexual who wanted to have her birth registration amended was that she wanted the gender changed though Im open to correction on this  As an aside  I queried Eamon O Cuivs use of the letter V in his surname on his articles talk page and someone pointed out he conveniently drops the O from O Cuiv for listing on ballot papers