Ruling of the North Holland Court on May 26, 2021

The petitioners have had a daughter for several months. They consciously chose a specific Dutch name for her at the time of her birth registration. However, because the petitioner has a partially Arabic background, they both have come to the conclusion that their daughter’s name has a particular meaning in Arabic. The name refers to a specific trend within the Islamic faith.

The petitioners do not find this objectionable, but they suspect that the name, as such, may not be accepted in the petitioner’s country of origin. It is not an existing name there but rather an indication of a trend within Islam. Although the name is common in the Netherlands, the petitioners suspect that the minor may encounter problems with it in the long run.

The petitioners find the name they have chosen beautiful and wish to retain it as much as possible. For this reason, they request a change in their daughter’s first name to one that is very similar. They have looked into whether the modified name could also have a specific (unintended) meaning, but that is not the case.

The court finds it sufficiently likely that the petitioners have a sufficiently significant reason for the request. The application is granted (in writing).