Judgment of the Amsterdam Court dated September 18, 2019

The applicant has been negatively confronted with her first name from a young age. The reason for this is that the applicant is of Moroccan origin, and her first name is generally unusual in the Netherlands. The applicant strongly feels that others also find her name strange, and she herself does not like the name.

In the past, the applicant was bullied because of her first name. This has led her to develop a sense of shame and aversion towards her first name. In her daily life, the applicant experiences strong hindrance from her current first name, which at times causes her to avoid social activities. She is afraid to introduce herself with her first name to others. For example, the applicant generally avoids going out and attending festivals because she is afraid that at some point, she will have to say her name. This goes so far that the applicant has a stress reaction when she hears her name, and due to all this hindrance, she wishes for a different name. This is particularly important for the applicant because she considers herself sensitive and cares a lot about what others think of her.

Given the applicant’s motivation and the fact that she has a statement from her general practitioner confirming her complaints, the court grants the request.