Decision of the North Holland Court dated September 16, 2020
The petitioner is of Moroccan origin, and the petitioner is of Dutch descent. They have a son who holds both Dutch and Moroccan nationalities. In Morocco, the authorities refuse to register their son under the name Aboud because the spelling of the name is incorrect. The correct spelling of the name is actually Abboud. It is also possible to spell the name as Abbou. The first name is common in Middle Eastern countries and is a typical Moroccan first name by itself. The spelling of the first name with one “b” is also unusual in the Netherlands, as the name Abboud is more common there.
Because the spelling of their son’s first name is not accepted in Morocco, the petitioners (and their son) experience several inconveniences. For example, it has not been possible for the petitioners to register their son in Morocco, and it is also not possible to apply for a Moroccan passport. Therefore, the petitioners wish to change the first name of the minor so that it will also be accepted in Morocco. They have experienced regular inconveniences in the past, which they wish to correct for the present and the future.
The minor provides a statement in the proceedings, in which he explains that he agrees with the request. He also states that he finds the name ‘Abboud’ more beautiful than the current spelling of his first name.
Considering the inconvenience that the petitioners and their son experience due to the first name, the court finds that they have a sufficiently substantial interest in the request. Given their son’s statement as well, the court does not consider it necessary to schedule an oral hearing. The court grants the request.
- The real name is fictitious.
