I wanted to change my whole name, including my first name and my surname. Can I do that? Like, I will create my own surname? My own surname. Not my mother's surname or any other relative's surname. I want to start my own surname and change my first name.
Can I change my first name and surname?
Atty. Bimbi
is a Legal expert
in the Philippines
In the Philippines, a person can change his or her name only in limited situations:
1. A married woman may change her surname and use her husband's name. This is her legal right. For example: from a maiden name of Maria Reyes, a woman will use instead, Mrs. Maria de la Cruz.
2. A married woman may also add her husband's name to her name. Her surname will have a "-" -- a hyphen between them, for example: Mrs. Maria Reyes-de la Cruz.
3. An adopted child may change his or her name and use the name of the adoptive parents. An illegitimate child who has used his or her mother's last name may change his or her name and use their biological father's last name once they are recognized.
4. A person may change his or her name if the name brings ridicule. For example: Maria Bagong-gahasa (this name would make people tease her and put her reputation in a bad light). She can petition her name to be changed.
Your parents' name was given to you because it is your right. It shows your paternity. If you simply discard your old name and adopt a new name, you might be committing identity theft. As far as Philippine laws are concerned, changing your name is something that you do only when you are hiding something. Thus, a person cannot simply change his or her name at will.
A person who was born in the Philippines and underwent a sex change operation petitioned the court to change his or her name and change the designation in the birth certificate from "male" to "female". This petition was denied by the Supreme Court.
1. A married woman may change her surname and use her husband's name. This is her legal right. For example: from a maiden name of Maria Reyes, a woman will use instead, Mrs. Maria de la Cruz.
2. A married woman may also add her husband's name to her name. Her surname will have a "-" -- a hyphen between them, for example: Mrs. Maria Reyes-de la Cruz.
3. An adopted child may change his or her name and use the name of the adoptive parents. An illegitimate child who has used his or her mother's last name may change his or her name and use their biological father's last name once they are recognized.
4. A person may change his or her name if the name brings ridicule. For example: Maria Bagong-gahasa (this name would make people tease her and put her reputation in a bad light). She can petition her name to be changed.
Your parents' name was given to you because it is your right. It shows your paternity. If you simply discard your old name and adopt a new name, you might be committing identity theft. As far as Philippine laws are concerned, changing your name is something that you do only when you are hiding something. Thus, a person cannot simply change his or her name at will.
A person who was born in the Philippines and underwent a sex change operation petitioned the court to change his or her name and change the designation in the birth certificate from "male" to "female". This petition was denied by the Supreme Court.
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