Can one parent change a baby's name without permission from the other?

[tovarem]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Iowa

I am 6 months pregnant and no longer with the father. When we spoke last, we were talking about baby names. He didn't like any of the names I had come up with. I said to him that if we couldn't agree on something, I'd just pick a name that I like and he'd just have to deal with it. He replied that he would just "pay the $200 and change the baby's name." Can he do that, can he change our baby's name without my permission? We are planning on having joint placement of the child, at least until it is in school, and he wants the baby to have his last name, which is okay with me. I appreciate any insight you can give me on this. Thank you.

[stealth2]

Either the parents agree to the change, a court orders it, or it doesn't happen.

[nextwife]

No, he cannot unilaterally change a child's name without permission of the other. See if you can come to a compromise, I'd sure hate to address my own child by some name with which I have negative associations.

Fortunately, our child came "already named" so we only had to decide whether to "translate or leave her name alone".