UK house naming rules for homes in Great Britain

Need to know how to give your house a name? - then read on...

Personalising your home by giving it a name is a relatively easy procedure although it is advisable to check with your Local Authority if there are any requirements for approval when the property is already numbered.

The general rule for naming your home is as follows: If your property has already been designated a number, you must always display the house number clearly within the boundary of the property and always use the house number in your address line. You can then also choose to use a house name that you like.  For example if your house number is 20 and you decide to name your house 'Rose Cottage', the address line should always be as follows:

 

The Rule is different if your property already has an existing house name and NO allocated house number.  If you wish to change the name of the property, permission must be sought from the Your Local Council first. - You will need to notify your local council of your intention of changing the house name in writing before you can use the new house name for your address.   

In the case of addresses where there is no number allocated, the registered house name forms part of the official address. - In this instance property owners wishing to change their property name should also put a request in writing to: Royal Mail Address Maintenance Unit, Sunderland, SR3 3XW,  Email: addressdevelopment@royalmail.com AND also their local Council's department responsible for street naming and numbering.  

The request should state your full name, the present full address of the property and state clearly the new preferred name. The property owner must contact the Royal Mail Address Maintenance Unit to see if the name is satisfactory, then the new address needs to be registered by the Royal Mail Address Maintenance Unit. If there is an issue with your preferred name, they will ask you choose an alternative name.  

It is the responsibility of property owners to inform their own personal contacts and relevant council services of any official change or addition to address. Various councils have different rules and procedures to change an existing house name, so it is wise to first check on your local council website about their procedures and regulations before you order a house sign with your new chosen house name.  

If a property in the local neighbourhood already has the same name that you have chosen, or if it sounds similar, you may not be able to use the house name because it could cause confusion to the post office, emergency personnel or council workers. - It is worthwhile just taking a walk around your local neighbourhood making notes of existing house names and thinking of several alternatives before applying to the Council. Some Councils charge a registration fee for their service and some don't.  

Most UK local councils have a web page showing their house naming and street numbering policy. To enquire with your local council use this link to an alphabetical list of LOCAL COUNCILS

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House naming in the UK – the rules in brief

Here's what you should do to add or change the house name on your property

If your home has already has a house number and no house name

Usually it is okay to just add a house name although it is always worthwhile having a quick check with your own local authority to find out if you need to seek approval. Use the link below to find the website of your own local authority for more information.

If your home does not have a number and you wish to change the existing house name.

You need to seek permission first from your own Local Authority.

To contact your local authority

Please use the following link to find your Local Authority details with the postcode checker.

 https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council

All house name and number signs shown on this website are made by us here in the UK. You can view and order them in the categories below - click on any image to view details of that style of house plaque

Slate House Signs

From:  £22.00    View

Rectangular Signs

From:  £25.00    View

Bridge Top Range

From:  £49.95    View

Rustic Signs

From:  £24.00    View

House Numbers

From:  £22.00    View

White Engraved Signs

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Hand Painted Pictorial Signs

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Tradesmen and merchants also  started naming their properties - Mill House, Forge Cottage, Wool Hall  etc. Once the convention of house naming became the norm many other  property owners followed suit by naming their house after distinguishing  features within the boundaries of the house - Oak Cottage, Rose  Cottage, The Pines, Orchard House, Meadow View etc.

Nowadays people name their  homes from all kinds of inspirations. - The previous usage of the  building inspires house names like The Barn, The Old Schoolhouse, The  Old Rectory whilst some home owners name their house after well known  beauty spots or  places they have had happy holidays at like Ambleside,  Windermere, Broadstairs, Sorrento, Santorini or Vermont. Other house  owners choose features of their home like Red Gables, Two Chimneys or  Grey Tiles. Sometimes the view from  the property is used like River View, Mountain View, Vista Montenasa  etc. Some home owners name their residence with  terms like Serenity,  Nirvana, Madhouse etc. Naming your home after animals usually seen  around the property is also very popular - Badgers Cottage, Cuckoo  Cottage, Curlew Cottage, Dolphin Cottage, Fox Hollow, Kestrels, Magpies,  Mole End, Nightingale Cottage, Robins Nest, Rookery Nook, Squirrels  Leap, Swallow Barn, The Jays and Two Hoots are all  favourites. 

Properties throughout the  British mainland had just house names until 1765 when an act of  Parliament decreed that all new properties must also have a house number  and street name for better identification of properties and boundaries.

About House Numbers in the UK 

Since the introduction of  street numbering by act of Parliament in 1765, every house built in a  town and city has a designated number followed by the name of the road  it is located in e.g. 20 Salisbury  Avenue. The first house in the road  is number one and the last house is the number of individual dwellings  or buildings in the street. The number identifies the location of a  property in a road and so makes it easier for the postal service or  emergency personnel to find houses.  

Odd numbers are usually  assigned to the left side of the street and even numbers to the right  side heading out of the town center - usually from the town hall or  other civic building. Many houses that  have been added to a street  since it had been given numbers would have been given a suffix instead.  For example, next door to number 12 may be 12A and 12B as they where  built on a parcel of land sold by the owner of number 12. Also a larger  building may have been turned into apartments or flats which may be  additionally numbered or given a suffix.

Even though each house has  been designated a number it does not mean that we can’t personalise our homes with a house name as well.  We can't change the designated house  number but we can add a house name or even change an existing house name  if we want.

Orchard - 11894
Meadow - 11473
Rose Cottage - 11308
Holly - 8131
Oak - 8032
Willow - 7913
School House - 4323
The Willows - 4107
Sunnyside - 3982
Springfield - 3958
Corner - 3902
Highfield - 3873
Old School -  3012
Primrose - 2598
Mill House - 2526
The Old Rectory - 2500
Yew Tree Cottage - 2359
The Old Vicarage- 2216
Oaklands - 2077
The Old Post Office - 2060
Lilac - 1973
Honeysuckle - 1911
Hillside - 1779
Treetops - 1676
Woodside - 1515
The Old School House - 1482
Ivy House - 1249
Woodlands - 1158
Red House - 1037
White House - 743
Wayside - 741
Granary - 700
Lakeside - 549
Stables - 549
Toad Hall - 496
Haven - 483
Vicarage - 461
Fairview - 407
Laurels - 341
Thornfield - 311
Hillcrest - 310
The Barn - 298
Firs - 292
The Cottage - 260
Nook - 238
Coach House - 233
Clarence - 230
Beeches - 195
Highclere - 188
Gables - 172