Name Change Trends in Leicester: Real Data from 491 Applicants

Changing your name is a personal decision, and in Leicester, hundreds of residents take that step each year.
 

Using real data from 491 deed poll applications, we’ve uncovered trends in why people change their names, who is doing it, and the most common choices Leicester residents make.

1) Why are people in Leicester changing their names?

The most common reason in Leicester is simple personal preference — wanting a name that feels right.

Top reasons for name change:

• Prefer a different name – 170 applicants (35.3%)
  
• Other personal reasons – 150 applicants (30.5%)
  
• Divorce – 73 applicants (14.9%)
  
• Marriage – 57 applicants (11.6%)
  
• Gender reassignment – 20 applicants (4.1%)
  
• Civil partnership – 6 applicants (1.2%)
  
• Widowed – 6 applicants (1.2%)
  

2) Who’s changing their name? (Gender)

Women make up the majority of name change applicants in Leicester.

Gender breakdown:

• Female – 304 applicants (61.9%)
  
• Male – 183 applicants (37.3%)
  
• Unknown/Other – 4 applicants (0.8%)
  

3) How old are Leicester applicants?

The average age is 36.6 years. The majority of applicants are in their late 20s to early 40s, a life stage often linked to major personal changes.

4) Most common titles in Leicester

Traditional titles still dominate, with “Mr” and “Miss” leading the list.

Top 5 titles:

• Mr – 183
  
• Miss – 152
  
• Mrs – 126
  
• Ms – 26
  
• Mx – 2
  

5) Are Leicester residents buying the Name Change Kit?

Over half of applicants choose the Name Change Kit, which helps update records with banks, HMRC, DVLA, utility companies, and more.

Kit usage:

• Yes – 281 applicants (57.2%)
  
• No – 210 applicants (42.8%)
  

Key takeaways for Leicester:

• Personal choice is the biggest motivator (35.3% of cases).
  
• Women are more likely than men to change their names (61.9% vs 37.3%).
  
• The average applicant age is 36.6 years.
  
• The most common title is “Mr”, followed closely by “Miss” and “Mrs”.
  
• 57.2% opt for the Name Change Kit for convenience.