Only when both parents reach an agreement can they apply for changing the child's name.
Taking Zhejiang Province as an example, according to the Regulations of Zhejiang Province on the Administration of Permanent Residence Registration (for Trial Implementation):
Article 51 Where a citizen applies for changing his or her name, he or she shall provide reasons for the change and relevant supporting materials, and shall make the change after investigation and verification by the local public security police station where his or her residence is located and examination and approval by the public security organ at the county level.
If a minor changes his or her name, both parents or guardians shall reach an agreement through consultation; If a minor over the age of 10 changes his or her name, he or she shall also obtain his or her own consent.
Article 52 Under any of the following circumstances, a citizen or his guardian may apply for changing his surname:
（1） Change between the father's surname and the mother's surname due to kinship;
（2） Change of family name due to adoption;
（3） Change of family name of minor children due to divorce or remarriage of parents;
（4） Other special circumstances where the public security organ determines that it is really necessary to change the surname.
Article 53 Under any of the following circumstances, the citizen himself or his guardian may apply for changing his name:
（1） The name or its homonym violates public order and good customs;
（2） Names or homonyms of names are liable to cause gender confusion, misunderstanding by others or hurt one's feelings;
（3） The name contains obscure words;
（4） Other special circumstances where the public security organ determines that it is really necessary to change the name.
Article 54 Under any of the following circumstances, the registration of name change shall be suspended:
（1） Is serving a sentence or undergoing reeducation through labor or taking criminal coercive measures;
（2） Correct those whose date of birth is less than three years.
