Removing or changing a baptismal name if you are no longer religious

When is renouncing a faith considered a compelling reason?

Based on Article 1:4 of the Dutch Civil Code, the court can change a first name if there is a compelling reason. In the case of renouncing a faith, the question is whether the name constitutes a demonstrable and ongoing burden.

The court weighs the following factors in its assessment:

• nature of the renunciation of the faith;
• Nature of the burden in daily life.

Nature of the renunciation of the faith

• You have deregistered from the church or have formally or factually left the faith.
• You no longer identify with the religious belief from which the name originates and experience the name as being in conflict with your current identity.
• The name was given by parents or was given at baptism without you having chosen it yourself.

Nature of the burden in daily life

• With every official mention, the name makes it clearly visible which religion you are or were connected to, while you no longer experience or desire that connection.
• You experience discomfort, tension, or social consequences due to the religious connotation of the name.
• The name does not align with who you are and how you are known by others.

A mere statement that you are no longer religious is usually insufficient. A careful substantiation of the personal burden significantly strengthens the request. The court assesses each request individually.

Which names fall under this?

The most common situations are:

Catholic or Christian baptismal names

Names such as Maria, Johannes, Wilhelmina, Franciscus, or Antonia are baptismal names that were common in the Catholic or Protestant faith. If you have deregistered from the church or no longer feel connected to Christianity, the religious weight of the name can provide a compelling reason.

Names with an Islamic origin

Names such as Mohammed, Fatima, Aisha, or Abdul refer directly to Islamic religious beliefs. For people who no longer identify with Islam or who have never been religious but were given the name by their parents, the visible religious connotation can constitute a burden.

Names from other religious traditions

Names from Jewish, Hindu, or other religious traditions can also fall under this scenario if the name has a direct religious meaning and the bearer no longer feels connected to that tradition.

Distinction from conversion to another faith

This scenario concerns renouncing a faith, not transitioning to another faith. For people who have converted and wish to change their name for that reason, there is a separate page: changing a first name due to religious conversion.

How does the procedure work?

1. Assessment of the situation
   Simmelink Lawyers discusses the background of the name, the nature of the renunciation of faith, and how the name is experienced as a burden in daily life.
2. Drafting the petition
   The petition describes the religious origin of the name, the renunciation of the faith, and the specific burden the name causes. A deregistration from the church, a statement, or other documentation can support the request.
3. Submission to the court
   The lawyer submits the request. In most cases, it is settled without a hearing. If the judge deems an oral hearing necessary, the lawyer will guide you through it.
4. Court order and registration
   After approval, the change is added as a subsequent mention to the birth certificate. After the three-month appeal period has expired, the change takes effect, and the passport, BRP (Personal Records Database), and other documents can be updated.

Practical examples

Deregistered from the church, baptismal names still in passport

In one case, a client had deregistered from the Catholic Church years earlier. The three baptismal names given at baptism were still in all official documents. The client experienced this as a daily reminder of a religious belief from which he had completely distanced himself. The petition was substantiated with the deregistration, the duration of the renunciation, and the personal burden of the names in daily practice.

Islamic name, not raised religiously

A client was given a name at birth with a direct Islamic meaning but was not raised religiously. In daily life, the name led to questions and assumptions about her religious beliefs that did not correspond with her actual situation. The petition documented the specific social consequences and described how the name burdened her self-presentation.

Baptismal name as a middle name, never used

In one case, a client had a baptismal name as a second first name that was given at the church baptism but had never been used. The client had no connection to the faith and found the name bothersome on official occasions. The request was aimed at removing the second name, while the first name remained unchanged.

Content checked by the team at Simmelink Lawyers, specialized in name law and family law.

Duration and costs

• The procedure takes an average of up to six months from submission to the court.
• The court fee is EUR 341 for all courts in the Netherlands.

The fixed legal fee for Simmelink Lawyers is EUR 619. You can read more about the cost structure on our page costs for changing a first name.

Trust and quality

Simmelink Lawyers is affiliated with the Dutch Bar Association.
Read more about our reviews or see how we work via our working method.