Judgment of the Central Netherlands District Court dated December 11, 2020

The petitioner has a 10-year-old son who has been subjected to a significant amount of bullying regarding his first name, starting in elementary school and continuing into high school.

As a result of the persistent bullying, the son has developed a strong aversion to his first name and has harbored a long-standing desire to adopt a different first name. His current first name has become a source of trauma for him, and he adamantly refuses to accept it in any way. Despite previous attempts at counseling to change his perspective, these efforts have not been successful. Collaborating with a Connect Begeleiding guide, the petitioner and her son have concluded that it is crucial to acknowledge the son’s wish for a first name devoid of negative connotations. The son identifies with the name Lars* and wishes to formalize this name. This decision is intentional, and despite initial reservations, he has been using the name whenever possible since mid-2019. Everyone in his environment is aware of this name, and the only remaining step is to make the name ‘official.’ The petitioner argues that she has a sufficiently weighty interest in the request, as stipulated by the law.

Although the petitioner and the father of the child no longer have an emotional relationship, they share joint custody, and the father fully supports the son’s wish. The court, following the request, has no further questions and handles the case in writing. The court grants the request for a change of first name.