U.K. man legally changes name to Bacon Double Cheeseburger

A British man born Simon Smith legally changed his name to Bacon Double Cheeseburger after a boozy night out with friends last July.

The 33-year-old told the London Evening Standard  that the fast-food moniker was one of the first things that popped into his head when his buddies convinced him to take the name change plunge.

“It was largely the most ridiculous thing we could think of,” he said. “My friends were quite supportive of anything that makes me look silly, as good friends are.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It was largely the most ridiculous thing we could think of," he said. "My friends were quite supportive of anything that makes me look silly, as good friends are."

He submitted an application with the U.K. Deed Poll Service, a company that draws up legal documents for people in the U.K. to use as evidence of a name change. The service sent the man formerly known as Simon Smith his documents a few days later, and he became Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

Louise Bowers from the U.K. Deed Poll Service told Global News that they issued over 63,000 deed polls last year. Common themes include folks wanting to include their favourite sports team or athlete as a middle name.

More serious reasons, such as witness protection or trying to escape an abusive relationship, are why some people use the service, but Bowers said, “Sometimes people go out with their friends, have a dare and have to change their name and all of their documents as a part of that dare. And there are some people who just get drunk, really.”

Her favourite name change in recent memory is a man who has gone by Happy Birthday since 2007.

Apparently, the doubly-beefy name doesn’t get in the way of Cheeseburger’s professional life. The consultant told the BBC that his work “speaks for itself,” and that he has no problem finding work.

As for his personal life, he said his fiancé isn’t too keen on becoming a Cheeseburger herself.

Bowers said Cheeseburger’s fiancé isn’t obligated to take his name, but had a suggestion:

“She might want to become Mrs. Big Mac or something.”

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Changing your name in the U.K. is a fairly simple and quick process.

According to the U.K. Deed Poll Service, it costs £33 or CAD$64 to change your name with an un-enrolled deed poll and takes four days. Publicly enrolling your new name with the Royal Courts of Justice can cost up to CAD$200.