Judgment of the Rotterdam District Court dated December 9, 2020

The petitioner is originally from Azerbaijan and has experienced a deeply traumatic history with her parents and grandmother, including instances of abuse. The names are strongly associated with individuals who have caused both physical and emotional trauma to the petitioner. As a child, she was mistreated by a grandparent, and she lived in Azerbaijan in a multi-generational household where the domestic atmosphere was deplorable.

Due to the events in her past, the petitioner has developed a strong aversion to her given names. This aversion is so profound that she refuses to be confronted with them in any way, and it is even a reason for her not to enter into marriage. In the past, she sought help from a clinical psychologist who confirmed that, due to several traumatic events in her past, the petitioner suffers greatly from her current official given names. She makes every effort to use her chosen names in daily life, and encountering the official given names causes her significant pain.

The petitioner moved to the Netherlands with her mother, distancing herself from her father and the rest of the family, to build a new life. However, the names continued to be a significant obstacle for her.

In support of her request for a name change, the petitioner provides a detailed motivation, explaining the impact of her given names, and submits a statement from the clinical psychologist describing the ways in which the petitioner experiences difficulties due to her given names. Based on the petitioner’s arguments, the court grants the request for a name change.

The petitioner possessed an original, legalized birth certificate from Azerbaijan. Considering the advice from the Civil Registry in The Hague, this certificate could be registered in the Netherlands.