Judgment of the North Holland District Court of June 9, 2021

The applicant was originally born and raised in China. She experiences significant distress from her first name and wishes to change it for the following reason. Her name still reminds her of her previous marriage, which was an unhappy one characterized by emotional abuse and aggression from her ex-husband. It took her many years to gather the courage to file for divorce.

She continues to suffer from psychological consequences stemming from the events during her marriage. Her current first name serves as a constant reminder of that difficult period in her life. Therefore, she wishes to avoid any association between her name and her past, and seek closure for her challenging marriage. This request provides an opportunity for her to make a fresh start in her life. It is likely that she has psychological issues that she cannot address on her own. However, due to her cultural background, where seeking assistance from others is generally discouraged, and self-reliance is prioritized, she has been hesitant to seek help so far. Given that she is now in a new relationship and has taken steps towards a fresh start, she hopes that by changing her name, she can leave her past behind. If it becomes evident that her psychological issues related to her past persist, she is open to seeking professional help.

The applicant has consciously chosen a new name that brings her happiness.

The court, considering the applicant’s motivation, grants the request for a name change.