How Many Times Can You Change Your Name?

Changing your name is important for many reasons. Some people change their names and after sometimes for another reason they revert to their previous names. But a common question is: How many times can you legally change your name in India?

Here we have explained the legal rules for changing names in India and the steps to do it correctly.

A big question, well, in India, the law does not limit the number of times a person can change the name. So you can do it as many times as you want. However, you must have to follow the legal procedure every time you change your name.

Even though Indian law has given you the leverage to change your name more than once, there are a few things that you must remember:

1. Valid Reason: You must have a valid reason for changing your name. Without a proper reason, your application may get rejected.
2. Legal Process: Each time, you must complete all legal steps like affidavits, newspaper ads, and gazette publication.
3. Updated Documents: Every time you change your name, you must update all your official documents repeatedly, like Aadhaar, PAN, passport, etc.

Common Reasons for Changing Your Name

Below are some common reasons by which people change their names in India:

1. Marriage: Indian women adopt their husband’s surname after marriage.
2. Divorce: After a divorce, especially females revert to their old name or choose a new one.
3. Personal Choice: Some people change their names by astro or numerological consultations or don’t like their current name and want a fresh start.
4. Adoption: Children adopted by a new family may take their adoptive family’s surname.
5. Religious Conversion: People who convert and adopt a new religion may take a new name.
6. Fixing Errors: Typos or spelling mistakes in correct names in documents are corrected by legally changing the name.

Rules for Changing Your Name

While you can change your name multiple times in India, but there are rules to follow:

1. No Fraudulent Intent: You cannot change your name to cheat someone, escape debt, or commit fraud.
2. Legal Process: Every name change must follow the official procedure, which involves creating an affidavit, publishing it in national and local newspapers, and getting the government gazette.
3. Supporting Documents: You need to provide proper documents that justify your name change.

Steps to Legally Change Your Name

Each time you change your name, you must follow these steps:

Step 1: Create a Name Change Affidavit

• Write an affidavit explaining your old name, new name, and the reason for the change.
• Get the affidavit notarized by a notary public.

Step 2: Publish in Newspapers

• Publish a name change notice in one local newspaper and one national newspaper.
• The notice must include your old name, new name, and the date of change.
• Keep copies of the newspaper as proof.

Step 3: Notify the Gazette Office

• Submit your affidavit, newspaper ads, and ID proof to the government gazette office.
• Pay the required fee and wait for your name to appear in the official gazette.

Step 4: Update Your Documents

Once your name is officially changed, update all your documents, such as:

• Aadhaar card
• PAN card
• Passport
• Voter ID
• Bank account records

Challenges of Changing Your Name Multiple Times

Even though it is legal to change your name many times, it can create some challenges:

1. Time and Effort: Each name change requires you to repeat the full legal process, which takes time.
2. Document Updates: You must update all your ID and financial documents every time.
3. Confusion: Frequent name changes may confuse friends, family, and official authorities.
4. Verification Delays: Government agencies or employers may take longer to verify your identity if you’ve changed your name several times.

Tips to Avoid Problems

1. Think Carefully: Before changing your name, make sure you are happy with the new one.
2. Keep All Records: Save all your affidavits, newspaper ads, and gazette notifications. You may need them in the future.
3. Inform Everyone: Notify banks, schools, workplaces, and other organizations about your name change.

How We Help You?

However, you can legally change your name in India multiple times, but it requires proper planning and documentation. Each time, you must follow the correct legal process for this and it can be confusing and time-consuming for you, so it’s important to hire an expert who can do everything on your behalf.

If you’re planning so, you can call us to talk to our registered law practitioners who are expert, experienced, and keep updated about the recent laws. Take the consultation, pay the processing fee, and sit relaxed. We have served thousands of Indians for the past decade to change their names legally in India. Call us now to take a free on call consultation.

FAQs About Name Change in India

Q1. Can I change my name more than once?

A. Yes, you can legally change your name as many times as you want, as long as you follow the legal process each time.

Q2. How much does it cost to change your name?

A. The cost depends on the fees for affidavits, newspaper ads, and gazette notifications. It usually ranges from ₹1,000 to ₹3,000.

Q3. Can I change my name for any reason?

A. Yes, but your reason must be valid and legal. Fraudulent or dishonest reasons will not be accepted.

Q4. What if I make a mistake during the process?

A. If you make a mistake, your application may be rejected, and you will need to start over. Double-check all your documents before submitting them.