Don't like your name? For £33 you can change it by deed poll, and join the 60,000 who will have done so by the end of the year. According to the UK deed poll service, we're undergoing a boom in name changing. Last month saw 30% more changes than September 2010.
Before the online deed poll service launched in 2000, the process was quite complicated, but now you can do it in your lunch hour, or even buy a deed poll as a Christmas present, with the new name left blank.
As well as 300 new John Smiths, recent name changes include quite a few sillier choices:
• Dr Pasty-Smasher Omlette
• Miss Jelly Tots
• Willy Wonka
• Mr and Mrs Puffin (a mesh of surnames Pugh and Griffin)
• Michael Jackson x 30
• Wayne Rooney x 15
• Amy Winehouse x 5
• David Beckham x 5
There are, however, some restrictions. Names that are deemed offensive, such as Osama bin Laden, are banned.
