Judgment of the Northern Netherlands District Court dated July 6, 2021

The applicant was originally of the female gender, but due to experiencing gender dysphoria, he underwent a transition in the past to become male. Originally, he was named Michelle, and then, in consultation with his parents, he changed his first name to Michel. This choice initially made him happy.

Now, several years later, the applicant notices that the name Michel reminds him of a very significant period in his life when he was addressed as Michelle. Because the name was occasionally pronounced as Michel in its original form, the new name seems too similar to the old one for his comfort. Even the threat of this similarity causes stress reactions in the applicant. It appears as though his original name sticks with him, significantly hindering him in daily situations. The applicant identifies as male, and the (potential) confrontation with his original name makes him very unhappy. Moreover, he becomes wary of others when he has to explain his name; he believes that others might be able to tell that he is transgender. He could not have anticipated that he would continue to be affected by his original name in this way.

The applicant has thought carefully about the new first name and wishes to use it permanently. Merely using the new chosen name as a nickname is not enough; the applicant wants to permanently distance himself from the name Michel and the (indirect) association with his former first name. He believes that it will prevent him from experiencing any form of stress or panic reactions when confronted with his current official first name.

The court is of the opinion that the applicant has sufficiently demonstrated that he experiences discomfort due to his official first name. Therefore, the court approves the request for a name change.

• The actual first names are fictitious.