Judgment of the Amsterdam District Court dated July 7, 2021
The applicants have had a daughter for several months. At the time of birth registration, they deliberately chose the name Michelle. After the birth of the minor, the applicants discovered that the name can be pronounced in two different ways, namely “Michel” and “Michelle.” The name is meant to be pronounced as “Michelle,” and the applicants wish for the spelling of the name to be in line with the phonetic pronunciation of the name.
The applicants have found that the name is susceptible to the aforementioned different pronunciations. They find this to be inconvenient. They also want to spare the minor from having to correct others in the future (“It’s Michelle, not Michel”). They believe it is best to change the minor’s first name now. This way, it will be clear to others that the name is not open to different interpretations, meaning the name doesn’t require an explanation. Because the inconvenience of the incorrect pronunciation cannot be easily resolved, they have chosen to change the minor’s name to Michel for the time being.
The court finds it plausible, based on the applicants’ explanation, that there is a sufficiently weighty reason. It approves the request for a name change.
- The actual first name is fictitious.
