Judgment of the Amsterdam District Court dated February 3, 2021

The petitioner bears the name Caroline.* In the Netherlands, the name is pronounced as spelled, but the petitioner primarily works internationally. When working with English-speaking colleagues, she is often addressed as Kè-roo-lain. This mispronunciation greatly bothers the petitioner.

For 20 years, the petitioner resided in Australia, where she faced a similar issue. There, her name was consistently mispronounced in an anglicized manner. Correcting others proved to be a challenge due to the nature of the English language.

Upon returning to the Netherlands a few years ago, the petitioner’s name-related concerns were temporarily alleviated. However, after starting work for an international employer, she once again encounters the issue of colleagues mispronouncing her name. This matter is a source of frustration both in her professional and personal life. To mitigate the problem, the petitioner has adopted a slightly modified version of her name whenever feasible, allowing for the correct pronunciation. However, she faces another challenge, as she is unable to officially use this adjusted name. She is expected to employ the name as it appears on her passport, which restricts her from utilizing the modified name for professional email communication. Moreover, the adjusted name leads to significant confusion, as it is spelled differently in various instances. Having grown accustomed to using this modified name for several years, the petitioner seeks to formalize this change. This is especially crucial because she plans to get married in the future and wishes to avoid having her original name on the marriage certificate.

In conclusion, the petitioner aims to permanently eliminate the confusion regarding the mispronunciation of her name. The court acknowledges that the petitioner has a sufficiently substantial reason for this request and grants it (in writing). The petitioner is now authorized to officially use the modified first name.

*Note: The name “Caroline” is used here for illustrative purposes, as it is not clear whether it’s the actual name in the case.