Judgment of the District Court of The Hague dated February 4, 2021

The applicant was named after her father’s good friend. Her mother was married to her father through an arranged marriage, which was never a happy one. The father was often dominant and made all decisions in the family. The applicant witnessed her father’s infidelity, excessive alcohol consumption, and frequent aggression. At some point, the applicant moved within the Netherlands. Her father occasionally took her to visit the same friend to have an opportunity to drink with him. On certain occasions, the applicant stayed overnight with the friend’s family on her father’s initiative, and during one such visit, she became a victim of sexual assault by the friend.

Due to the traumatic past, the applicant wishes to change her first name as it frequently reminds her of those painful memories. She has been using a self-selected nickname and wishes to formalize it, as it brings her happiness and allows her to make a fresh start in her life. Although the nickname is already used by friends, family, and acquaintances, the applicant believes that her official name is an integral part of her identity. She wants the freedom to officially register her chosen nickname as her first name to help her move on from the past.

The court finds that there is a sufficiently weighty reason for the name change request and approves it without the need for an oral hearing.