How do you legally add a middle name?
Daniel Martin
Updated on May 17, 2026
- Determine whether your state has a specific form for name changes.
- Gather required identification documents.
- Submit your completed forms and pay required fees.
- Publish a notice of your name change in a legal newspaper, if required.
- Attend required court hearings.
Thereof, how do I add my middle name?
There are no such formal restrictions on adding a middle name. You can simply apply for a middle name and add a middle name of your choice. All you need to do is once you get the deed poll, change your official documents to show your middle name as a part of your legal name.
Subsequently, question is, can I add middle name to birth certificate? If your baby is between 6 months old and 1 year old, you may be able to simply amend their birth certificate. If your child is over 1 year old and the change is more than a simple spelling correction, most states require you to obtain a court order.
Also know, how much does it cost to have a middle name?
You can just start using a middle name if you like. If you want to do this legally, there are court filing fees to file the Petition for Change of Name (between $200 and $300), plus there is the cost of publication in a local newspaper.
Is your middle name part of your legal name?
The Social Security Administration does not consider a middle name or suffix as part of an individual's legal name. But many other legal sources say a full legal name includes middle name. However, as long as first and last name match up, then there isn't usually a problem.