Why register a Birth with surname only ?

[Guest]

I am looking for a birth of a Marian/Mary Ann Greaves born abt 1863 Camberwell
Have found a Birth on FMP of a Female Greaves Mar 1864 Camberwell 1D 569 so would you say this is quite likely her ? and why bother to register without a first name as surely there is plenty of time to choose a name first? and also when a name is finally chosen do you have to re register?
Thanks

[Chrissie Smiff]

I've come across loads of just female or male births Val. I always assume that they were running out of time to register and hadn't decided on the name yet. I don't think they re-registered when named as I have never found one. Not unless the mother married the father afterwards anyway.

[WendyPusey]

My Great Grandmother was registered in Dublin as Female Cope! Perhaps they couldn't decide on a name. They were married at the time too.

[Guest]

thanks Chrissie and Wendy seeing as you get ? is it 6 weeks before you have to register wonder why they couldn't decide on a name ?
I am claiming this one anyway;)

[PeteW1959]

I have a few as Female/Male Surname, but they are all children who died soon after birth.

[Guest]

I can understand that Pete that makes sense in a way, sad though to not have a name.

[Elaine ..Spain]

Is this one any good to you Val, or have you eliminated it.

Births Jun 1863
GREAVES Mary Ann
Camberwell 1d 503

[Guest]

ooh Elaine your a marvel I didn't see that one ? in fact I cannot see the one I found on FMP on Ancestry too, yours is probably the right one thanks again.

[Olde Crone Holden]

Anmother reason for not naming a child was sometimes because the child had not yet been baptised. There was a superstitious belief that it was unlucky or ungodly to name the child civilly before you had told God what you were going to call the child.
This seemed particularly prevalent amongst Catholics.

There is, or was, a column on the BC which allows for a name to be registered or changed to reflect a baptismal name. I think this had to be done in the first 12 months after birth.

OC

[Guest]

thanks for that info OC I've not found a bap for her yet