The birth certificate issued by the former National Statistics Office (now Philippine Statistics Authority or PSA) is the primary document that establishes a person's identity. While parents typically choose the child's first name with care at registration, circumstances arise where changing the registered first name becomes necessary or desirable. In the Philippines, changing a minor child's first name is legally possible through either an administrative proceeding or a judicial proceeding, depending on the ground and nature of the requested change.

Legal Framework

The governing laws are:

Republic Act No. 9048 (2001) – originally authorized only the correction of clerical or typographical errors and change of nickname/day and month of birth administratively.
Republic Act No. 10172 (2012) – amended RA 9048 to allow the administrative change of first name (not just correction of clerical errors) and expanded the grounds for such change.
Rule 108 of the Rules of Court – used when the change sought is substantial or does not fall under the grounds of RA 9048/10172, requiring a full court hearing.

Since the enactment of RA 10172, the vast majority of first name changes, even for minor children, are now processed administratively through the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) or Philippine Consulate, making the process faster and less expensive than going to court.

Distinction Between Clerical Error Correction and Change of First Name

Type	Law	Grounds	Typical Examples for Children
Clerical/Typographical Error	RA 9048	Simple mistake in entry (transposition, misspelling, wrong letter)	“Jhon” instead of “John”, “Mairk” instead of “Mark”
Change of First Name	RA 10172	Substantive change to an entirely different name	Changing “Princess Diana” to “Diana Marie” because the original name is ridiculous or causes teasing; changing “Adolf” to “Adrian” because it is tainted with dishonor

If the request is merely to correct a misspelling, it is filed as clerical error (cheaper and faster). If it is to adopt a completely new first name, it must be filed under change of first name.

Grounds for Administrative Change of First Name (RA 10172)

The law explicitly allows change of first name on any of the following grounds:

The first name is ridiculous, tainted with dishonor, or extremely difficult to write or pronounce.
- Common for children: names that invite bullying (e.g., “Covid”, “Google”, “Facebook”, “Hitler”, “Bin Laden”, very long or unpronounceable names).
The petitioner has habitually and continuously used the new first name and has been publicly known by that name in the community.
- For very young children (below 5–7 years old), this ground is difficult to prove because they have not yet established habitual use in the community. Parents usually rely on ground 1 or 3.
The change will avoid confusion.
- Example: child is called by a completely different nickname by everyone (e.g., registered as “Maria Clara” but has always been called and known as “Clara Sofia”).

These grounds are interpreted liberally by most Local Civil Registrars, especially when the petitioner is a minor and the parents are in agreement.

Who May File the Petition for a Minor Child

Both parents (if legitimate child and marriage subsists)
Surviving parent
The mother alone (if illegitimate child)
Guardian appointed by the court
The child himself/herself if already 18 years old at the time of filing

If the parents are separated or one parent objects, the petition is generally not accepted administratively and must be filed in court under Rule 108.

Where to File

City or Municipal Civil Registrar of the place where the birth is registered (not where you currently reside, unless it is the same place).
If the birth was registered through a delayed registration or the family has migrated, a migrant petition may be filed at the LCR of current residence, which will be endorsed to the LCR of the place of birth.
For Filipinos abroad: Philippine Consulate or Embassy that has jurisdiction over the place of residence, which will forward the petition to the PSA.

Required Documents (Change of First Name for Minor)

Standard requirements:

Accomplished Petition Form (available at LCR or PSA website)
PSA-authenticated Birth Certificate of the child (original + photocopies)
PSA Marriage Certificate of parents (if legitimate)
Valid IDs of petitioners (parents/guardian)
Baptismal certificate (if any)
School records (Form 137 or school ID showing the name actually used, if applicable)
Affidavit of Non-Employment or Employment Certificate (to prove the name used in the community)
Police/NBI clearance of parents (sometimes required)
Barangay clearance
Medical certificate (if the name is claimed to cause psychological distress – increasingly accepted)
Earliest school record or immunization card showing the name actually used
Affidavits of at least two disinterested persons who know that the child is known by the new name or that the old name causes ridicule

Additional documents depending on ground:

For “ridiculous/dishonorable” – affidavits from teachers, classmates, or psychologist stating the child is being teased
For habitual use – any document (even clinic records, vaccination cards) bearing the new name

Fees (as of 2025)

Clerical error correction: ₱1,000
Change of first name: ₱3,000
Migrant petition additional fee: ₱1,000
Philippine Consulate abroad: usually USD 50–150 equivalent

Processing Time

Posting period: 10 working days (twice, for two consecutive weeks)
Decision period: usually 1–3 months from filing
Total average: 3–6 months
Once approved, the LCR annotates the birth record and forwards to PSA. The new PSA birth certificate will bear an annotation: “First name changed from [old name] to [new name] per RA 10172 pursuant to LCR Resolution No. __ dated ___”

The annotation is permanent and will appear on all future copies of the birth certificate.

Effect on Other Documents

After the change is approved and annotated:

Passport – may be renewed with the new name (present annotated PSA birth certificate)
School records – school will issue new diploma/certificates reflecting the new name upon presentation of annotated BC
PhilHealth, SSS/GSIS, driver’s license, etc. – all can be updated with the annotated birth certificate

When Administrative Change is Not Possible

The following situations require a judicial petition under Rule 108, Rules of Court (filed at the Regional Trial Court of the place where the LCR is located):

One parent objects to the change
The child is already 18 or older and one of the parents is deceased or cannot be located (sometimes still accepted administratively, but many LCRs require court order)
The requested change does not clearly fall under the three grounds of RA 10172
The LCR or Civil Registrar General denies the administrative petition on meritorious grounds

Judicial proceedings typically take 8–18 months and cost ₱50,000–₱150,000 in legal and publication fees.

Special Cases

Newborns (less than 1 year old) – Many LCRs allow simple correction or even supplemental report if the child has not yet been issued a PSA birth certificate with the wrong name widely circulated.
No first name registered – Parents sometimes register the child with only the surname or leave the first name blank. This can be corrected/supplemented administratively with a Supplemental Report.
Adopted children – The new name is indicated in the Amended Birth Certificate issued after adoption finality. No separate name change proceeding is needed.
Foundlings or children under DSWD custody – The DSWD or guardian files the petition.

Practical Tips from Philippine Practice (2025)

Most City Civil Registrars (Manila, Quezon City, Cebu, Davao, Makati, Taguig) are now very liberal in approving first name changes for children when both parents consent and the reason is reasonable (e.g., “the name causes constant teasing in school” supported by teacher’s affidavit).
It is now common and accepted to change names such as “Baby Boy/Girl”, “Covid”, “Bongbong”, “Duterte”, “Hitler”, or extremely long religious names.
Always secure the annotated PSA birth certificate immediately after approval – this is the most important document for updating everything else.
The child’s consent is not required if below 7 years old; from 7–17, some judges or registrars ask for the child’s assent, but it is not a strict legal requirement under RA 10172.

Changing a minor child’s first name in the Philippines is now straightforward and administrative in the overwhelming majority of cases, thanks to RA 10172. With proper documentation and a valid ground, parents can give their child a name that will serve them well throughout life without the burden of court litigation.