Judgment of the Rotterdam District Court of July 29, 2020

The petitioner has always found her official first name, Nellie*, burdensome. Traditionally in her family, the oldest children were named after grandparents, and this was the case for the petitioner, whose grandmother was named Nellie. Although her parents did not like the name, they felt obligated to follow this tradition, as naming after the grandmother was a strict requirement. The mother of the petitioner had to adhere to her own mother’s expectations and did as expected. The petitioner knows that her cousins, also named Nellie, seldom use the name.

The petitioner’s mother often expressed regret for not choosing a different name. To her, Nellie carried a negative connotation, partly because the petitioner’s grandmother was not the mother she had hoped for, and was perceived as catty and dominant. The name constantly reminded her mother of her negative experiences. The petitioner herself wants to disassociate from the name Nellie, as mentioning her first name causes her distress and discomfort, reflecting her dislike for it.

The petitioner has reflected on her negative feelings toward the name, concluding that she associates the name Nellie more with a cow and feels it does not suit her. She has been considering a first name change for some time and is now ready to initiate the procedure.

Given the petitioner’s motivation, the court determines that the application meets the legal requirements and constitutes a significant interest. The court grants the request.

• The actual first name has been fictionalized.