First name change
You can submit a request to change your first name either to your local Mairie or to Ofpra after it has drawn up your birth certificate.
If the Mairie or Ofpra considers that your application to change your first name is justified by a legitimate interest, your new first name will be recorded on your birth certificate.
- Who is concerned ?
Anyone with a legitimate interest (Examples : your first name or the junction between your first and last name is ridiculous or prejudicial to you ; Other people (parents, siblings, employers, colleagues) call you by a first name other than your original first name can apply to change their first name). It is possible to request the addition, deletion or change in the order of first names.
- What steps do I need to take?
If you choose to apply at your local Mairie, you must submit your application in person, together with the necessary supporting documents.
If you choose to apply to Ofpra, you must first request an appointment by post. You will be sent an appointment to submit your application in person at Ofpra's offices in Fontenay-sous-Bois. For this appointment, you will need to fill in the application form for a change of forename, which can be downloaded from the bottom of the page, and present it, along with the necessary documents, on the day of your appointment.
The civil registrar or Ofpra will then be responsible for assessing your application. It is up to them to refer the matter to the public prosecutor if they consider that there is no legitimate interest. If the public prosecutor is opposed to the change, you may refer the matter to the "juge aux affaires familiales".
If you are a minor, the change must be made by your legal representative. If you are aged between 13 and 17, your personal consent is required.
- Registration of the new first name
The decision to change your first name is recorded on your birth certificate. This certificate can be produced to the various authorities to prove that the first name has been changed. You will find at the bottom of the page the forms for requesting a change of forename that correspond to your situation.
Protected people can find further information on :
