Judgment of the Central Netherlands District Court dated December 7, 2020

The petitioner is of Italian origin and has often faced difficulties in her life due to her first name. Her name is considered outdated in Italian, and she was teased and bullied by others at a young age because of it.

Throughout her life, the petitioner has tried to conceal her official first name, especially at school, to prevent others from learning her real name. On a school trip in the past, her classmates eventually discovered her true name, leading to mockery and teasing. This experience was very unpleasant for the petitioner and strengthened her resolve never to use her official first name.

In addition, the petitioner has often been a target of gossip. She has had a few female friends, and others would tell these friends that the petitioner’s real name was different.

In her daily life, it makes the petitioner very unhappy that she cannot officially use her chosen nickname. She experiences a sense of shame about having to hide her name from the outside world, which manifests in various daily situations. For example, she always wants to be the one who books plane tickets for herself and her friends to avoid revealing her real name. The name brings the petitioner significant unhappiness. Finally, the petitioner also wants to change her name because it has a somewhat Catholic association. She is not religious herself, and that contributes to her desire to alter her name.

The petitioner would be very pleased if she could remove her official name and go through life with the nickname she has chosen for herself. Where possible, she uses the name in her daily life, at work, school, and with family, friends, and acquaintances.

The court rules that there is a sufficiently weighty reason for the name change and grants the request (in writing).